Member-only story
Why Scientists Want You to Use Your Other Hand
Hand dominance may provide brain resources you may never have known you have or enhance ones you already have.
When my mother entered elementary school, she was left-handed, but the school viewed that as a deficit. What do you suppose they did? Yes, she told me they tied her left hand behind her back so that she was forced to use her right hand.
Left-handedness has long posed a challenge in many cultures, as nearly everything has been designed for right-handed individuals. I also have a relative who is left-handed, and the school saw no issues in that regard. He was an excellent student, graduated with top grades, and went on to a professional school where he had to use specialized instruments. The issue? Most of the instruments were, once again, designed for right-handed users.
He struggled significantly to find left-handed instruments, and he wasn’t alone. I also had a friend who was left-handed and enjoyed playing golf. Most golf equipment is similarly designed for right-handed players. Again, he faced difficulty finding left-handed golf clubs. But one time, he had a great chuckle when someone stole his golf clubs from the trunk of his car. "I wonder how surprised they're going to be when they find out they can't use those clubs because they're made for a left-handed golfer," He said with a glorious smile on…
