My daughter would like to know why we have a dominant side. I’m pretty darn curious too.
In: Biology
There isn’t a perfect biological solution for this….
Best answer we have is that different hemispheres of the brain develop at different rates for different purposes…as the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body;….the left brain side develop earlier in life therefore creating a right hand dominance
A dominant side enables you to attempt to pick the most suitable partner (one with the best genes).
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Have you ever seen a fiddler crab? They have one big claw, one little claw. They are specialized for different functions. Lobster claws are also different.
You have one side that’s better at finer, more precise movements. The other side is good enough to perform support functions. One hand operates the knife, the other holds the fork. You only need one hand to be the best possible hand, and it can be better if the other hand doesn’t have to be as good.
Pretend that your brain starts out as a totally blank canvas that can process anything. When you’re born, the brain is randomly trying to process everything everywhere.
Over time, some parts are more successful than others so more of that type of processing just starts going there. Other parts of the brain pick up doing others things. Sort of like ants finding a path to food. It starts randomly, but the best path is reenforced over time.
This is a massive simplification and doesn’t explain why there are more right handers, but the brain is basically a reenforced training engine, so it starts random and pliable and becomes more rigid over time. (Again massive simplification, there are parts of the brain that always do specific things from birth, like breathing)
Also, compute distance matters so all of tals type A processing will end up happening in the same place because splitting across the brain is inefficient.
there is a simple rule in evolution: what works faster, survives. if you have to think about using the left or the right hand to grab a branch while climbing, the chance that you will fall down is much bigger than when you instinctively use the right hand. the same with throwing a stone. also there is something called muscle memory. your muscles learn how to precisely do things and remember it (its not in your muscles but an unconcious part of your brain). now if you have to train both sides, it would take longer and also would result in a better side.
As a side: In cats, females are more likely to be right pawed than male cats. In birds, almost all have left tendencies (like 99%+).
There is actually a neurological reason why most people are right handed. It was a side effect of something important to human evolution.
Great video, few minutes long from PBS about this. They try to keep it really simple.
There is an insta by a creater called Rachel the nueroscientist this is exactly the sort of question she answers. She gives fantastic and easy to understand explanations. Maybe fire the question at her as well.
Not a scientific answer, but I guess I’m considered a “lefty,” though my right dominates in many ways. I throw, kick, and shoot guns better (stronger and more accurately) on the right.
But I eat, write, and draw better with my left. I fish right-handed, but play guitar left-handed.
I’m in a big family, and all my siblings are solid right. Pretty sure we were all raised the same.
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