Being Left-Handed
Brain organisation
No-one has come up with a definitive reason for WHY some people are left-handed, but about 13% of the population around the world are, and it is thought to be genetic - it definitely runs in families. Researchers have recently located a gene they believe "makes it possible to have a left-handed child " so if you have that gene, one or more of your children may be left-handed, whereas without it, you will only have right-handers - sorry! The good news is, that if you are left-handed yourself, you have that gene and will pass it on through the generations!
The way the brain works is incredibly complex, but this simplified explanation will give you some understanding of where our left-hand dominance comes from. The brain is "cross-wired" so that the left hemisphere controls the right handed side of the body and vice-versa and hand dominance is connected with brain dominance on the opposite side - which is why we say that only left-handers are in their right minds!

The left hemisphere (RIGHT HAND CONTROL) controls Speech, Language, Writing, Logic, Mathematics, Science, this is the LINEAR THINKING MODE.
The right hemisphere (LEFT HAND CONTROL) controls Music, Art, Creativity, Perception, Emotions, Genius, this is the HOLISTIC THINKING MODE
Effects of right brain dominance
This brain dominance makes left-handers more likely than right handers to be creative and visual thinkers. This is supported by higher percentages of left-handers than normal in certain jobs and professions - music and the arts, media in general. (See the results of our Lifestyle Survey of Left-Handers for our detailed findings) Left-handers are also generally better at 3-dimensional perception and thinking, leading, for example, to more left-handed architects than normal. Left-handers are also usually pretty good at most ball sports and things involving hand-to-eye co-ordination.
The view that left-handers are clumsy and awkward is not down to their natural abilities, but being forced to use right-handed tools and machinery which is completely back-to-front for them.
To find out more, and for some hints and tips for getting the most out of a right-handed world, visit the FAQ section at Anything Left-Handed.
If you are interested in the latest research and findings on left-handedness, you can buy the excellent book Right-Hand, Left Hand by Chris McManus in the online shop.
3rd July 2009 - 1:07pm
i did really have that much trouble learning to write. but i am good at mirror writing. i didnt know it until i was older, because i wanted to write something so you could read it in the mirror. and i figured out i was pretty good at it. now i guess that cuz im left handed! lol
3rd July 2009 - 1:03pm
yeah! im left handed also and last year i had the highest grade in my class. some things are harder for me to learn. both of my parents are right handed, and i remember learning to tie my shoes was such a pain! so my mom taught be to tie them the two bunny ears way. then on my own i learned to tie them correctly after i was older. and so many toys for kids are made for right handers.
3rd July 2009 - 4:28am
right handed people think they are superior just coz there are less of us lefties.
we have to learn the world backwards and put up with their right handed stuff.
im left handed so are both my parents. i can write both normal and mirror and im top of my class. just coz we are lefties doen't meen we're stupid
28th June 2009 - 8:02pm
Okay so im 16 and is now on our school drumline. But my freshman year my drum instructor said that i would have to be put into the Pit crew besacuse i was left handed. all of the other 12 people on the drum line were right handed. Now every person that has a clue about music knows that nearly all instruments were made for right handed people. Now the percussion instrument require that your right hand be the strongest for it is used more. Now for the bass drum you use your right hand 95% of the time. Now after two months of training my right hand to be stonger. Mr.Connolson finally let me be on the Bass line. Now i am going to be a senior this year and now since freshman year i have been plaing 2nd bass drum. All i had to do was over comoe my left handed ness to do something i love.
thats me the second smallest drum. =]
26th June 2009 - 6:39am
I am a leftie child I can play piano by ear and have an excellent singing voice oh and freddie mercury was left handed to
24th June 2009 - 6:52pm
I'm left handed, and when I was little I taught myself to write by copying out of books, but I wrote everything exactly backwards, mirror image. I've heard that Leonardo Di Vinci also used mirror image writing in his journal, and he was a lefty. Of course, in school I was forced to learn to write the normal way, but I can still write backwards, and I kept writing my J's backward until 3rd grade or so. Could this have anything to do with being a lefty? I also used to draw things exactly mirror image from the picture I was looking at, but since learning to write correctly I no longer do that unless I try. I don't think I'm dyslexic, because I've never had any trouble reading. Has anyone heard of people writing backwards before?
14th June 2009 - 12:23pm
im left handed and can do things with my right hand but not write. im not sure why..
6th June 2009 - 2:27am
Augustine, you are entitled to your opinion but your remark can be construed as an insult to left handed people. By the way, I am a lefty, as was my Late Mother. She had nothing against right handed people, and neither do I. Lighten up!
1st June 2009 - 5:15am
I am Left handed and very bright. I dont need your right handed tools I am so clever I find a right hander to do it rather. Keep your dumbfounded comments to yourself or read a bit more before you attack people. DUMBASS.
27th May 2009 - 1:45am
You lefties have to have everything specially made, either become right handed or learn to use right handed tools. Righties rock and I hope we continue to rule the world!
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