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handedness

This shows a person drawing with both hands.

·June 30, 2025·4 min read

Left-Handed Creativity Myth Debunked

The long-standing belief that left-handed people are more creative has been challenged by a new meta-analysis of over a century of research. After reviewing nearly 1,000 studies, researchers found no consistent advantage in creative thinking for lefties—in fact, right-handers slightly outperformed on some tests.

This shows a head looking right, and one looking left.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 5, 2025·4 min read

Why Lefties Are More Common in Autism and Dyslexia

A new meta-analysis highlights a strong connection between early-onset neurodevelopmental disorders with linguistic symptoms and left- or mixed-handedness. Disorders like dyslexia, autism, and schizophrenia were notably associated with higher rates of non-right-handedness, unlike later-onset conditions such as depression.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology Visual Neuroscience

·July 8, 2024·6 min read

Handedness and Vision May Reveal Hidden Social Strengths

A new study shows that human biases in handedness and visual field processing have social and cognitive implications. Researchers found that people with a reversed bias (left hand, right visual) are more likely to have social difficulties and conditions like autism or ADHD. The study reveals that aligning biases may have social benefits, much like in animals. These findings could lead to early screening and interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 9, 2024·6 min read

Why Do Most People Cradle Babies in Their Left Arm?

A novel study explores the curious phenomenon of why the majority of people prefer cradling a baby in the crook of their left arm. Research suggests that around 75% of individuals, regardless of their handedness, instinctively use their non-dominant arm to cradle a baby.

This shows a person writing with their left hand

Featured Neuroscience

·April 3, 2020·3 min read

World’s biggest study of left-handedness

A meta-analysis study reveals at least 10.6% of the world's population is left-handed.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 20, 2020·1 min read

Strongly ‘handed’ squirrels less good at learning

Gray squirrels who have a preference for using either their right or left paw perform worse on learning tasks.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 5, 2019·4 min read

Genes associated with left-handedness linked with shape of the brain’s language regions

Four genetic regions have been identified as playing a role in left-handedness. Three of the four genes were associated with proteins involved in brain development and structure. Neuroimaging revealed those who were left-handed had increased functional connectivity between left and right language networks. Researchers also found correlations between the genetic regions associated with left-handedness and slightly reduced Parkinson's risk, but a slightly increased risk for schizophrenia.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 28, 2019·4 min read

Lefty, righty brains count on same area for numbers

A new study debunks the popular myth that handedness plays a role in the lateralization of number processing in the brain. The study revealed, regardless of which is your dominant hand, the brain's location for number processing is the same.

This shows someone writing with their left hand

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos

·August 15, 2019·4 min read

Being left-handed doesn’t mean you are right-brained – so what does it mean?

Researchers look at the myths and the facts about left-handedness.

This shows a man holding a baby on the left side

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 16, 2019·3 min read

Why two out of three babies are cradled on the left

A new study reveals why most people prefer to cradle a baby on the left side.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 7, 2019·2 min read

Long-Term Breastfeeding Sheds Light on Whether an Infant Becomes Left or Right Handed

According to researchers, the prevalence of being left-handed is lower in children who were breastfed compared to those who were bottle fed. The study proposes breastfeeding may optimize brain lateralization towards dominant handedness.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 29, 2018·3 min read

Why People Have Lateral Preferences When Kissing and Hugging

A new study reveals why we have a lateral preference when it comes to displaying social emotions. Researchers say that while handedness plays a part in why we prefer to hug or kiss on one side, emotional content also plays a role.