Discuss five advantages of being left-handed or ambidextrous, including the effects of left-handed persons being less strongly lateralized

Question

What will be an ideal response

Answer 1

Answer will include that there are some clear advantages to being left-handed.
Throughout history, a notable number of artists have been lefties, from Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo to Pablo Picasso and M. C. Escher. Since the right hemisphere tends to be superior at imagery and visual abilities, there is some advantage to using the left hand for drawing or painting. At the least, lefties are definitely better at visualizing three-dimensional objects. This may be why there are more left-handed architects, artists, and chess players than would be expected. Similarly, being right-handed does not guarantee sports superiority. Left-handers have done well in a variety of professional sports including boxing, fencing, handball, and tennis. One striking feature of lefties is that they are generally less lateralized than the right-handed. (Lateralization refers to specialization in the abilities of the brain hemispheres.) Even the physical size and shape of lefties' cerebral hemispheres are more alike. In general, left-handers are more symmetrical on almost everything, including eye dominance, fingerprints, and even foot size. In some situations, less lateralization may be a real advantage. For instance, individuals who are moderately left-handed or are ambidextrous (can do things equally well with both hands) seem to have better than average pitch memory, which is a basic musical skill. Correspondingly, more musicians are ambidextrous than would normally be expected. Math abilities may also benefit from fuller use of the right hemisphere. Students who are extremely gifted in math are much more likely to be left- handed or ambidextrous. Even when ordinary arithmetic skills are concerned, lefties seem to excel. The clearest advantage of being left-handed shows up when there is a brain injury. Because of their milder lateralization, left-handed individuals typically experience less language loss after damage to either brain hemisphere, and they recover more easily.