Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
HomeHealthWhy are most humans right-handed?

Why are most humans right-handed?

It’s a question that has puzzled scientists and laypeople alike for centuries. While about 10% of the population is left-handed, the overwhelming majority of people are right-handed. But why is this the case?

A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports offers a novel explanation. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden and Chester University in the UK propose that the heart’s location in the left hemithorax makes the left side of the chest vulnerable to a fatal blow during combat.

The study suggests that this vulnerability may have played a role in the evolution of right-handedness. While left-handed people may have had an advantage in fighting, they were also more likely to be mortally wounded due to the position of the heart. Over time, this could have led to a natural selection of right-handedness.

The researchers arrived at this conclusion by analyzing the skeletal remains of soldiers who died in combat over the past 5,000 years. They found that, regardless of the time period or culture, the vast majority of these soldiers were right-handed.

While this study provides an intriguing explanation for the prevalence of right-handedness, it is worth noting that it is just one theory among many. Other researchers have proposed that genetics, brain lateralization, and environmental factors may all play a role in determining handedness.

For example, a study published in the journal Life in 2017 found that the degree of left-right asymmetry in the brain’s language areas may be a key factor in determining handedness. The researchers found that people with stronger leftward asymmetry in these areas were more likely to be right-handed, while those with weaker asymmetry were more likely to be left-handed.

Meanwhile, a study published in the journal PLoS ONE in 2015 found that environmental factors, such as birth order and exposure to testosterone in the womb, may also play a role in determining handedness.

Despite the ongoing debate about the origins of handedness, there is no doubt that it has important implications for how we interact with the world. Right-handedness is the norm in many cultures, and as a result, many tools and products are designed with right-handed users in mind. This can create challenges for left-handed people, who may struggle to use scissors, can openers, and other tools that are designed for right-handed users.

right-handed
Image source: Google

However, there are also many left-handed people who have learned to adapt to a right-handed world. Some famous lefties include Barack Obama, Prince William, and Oprah Winfrey, all of whom have achieved great success despite their non-dominant handedness.

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In conclusion, while the origins of handedness may be complex and multifaceted, there is no denying that it is a fascinating and important topic of study. By understanding the factors that contribute to handedness, we can gain insight into the workings of the human brain and the evolution of our species.

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