Some historical beliefs linked left-handedness to superstitions, associating it with witchcraft because the devil was said to be left-handed. Left-handed individuals often have to adjust to using right-handed tools and struggle with scissors designed for righties. Despite these challenges, there are many interesting facts about lefties that people may not know.
Left-handed folks are quite interesting, and they deserve a little acknowledgment. So, here are some cool facts about left-handers that you might not have known before:
1. They make up roughly 12% of the population
Around 12% of the global population is left-handed, while 87% is right-handed, and 1% is ambidextrous. Interestingly, the percentage of lefties is slowly increasing worldwide as societal acceptance of left-handedness grows. Surprisingly, in some countries, there are still efforts to make children learn to write with their right hand. For instance, back in 1860, when being left-handed was associated with the devil, only about 2% of the population was estimated to be left-handed.
It’s important to note that the current 12% figure can vary by country and gender, highlighting the diverse distribution of left-handed individuals around the world.
2. National left-landers day
August 13th is celebrated as National Left-Handers Day. This special day is all about making people aware of the difficulties faced by those who use their left hand in a world mostly made for right-handed folks. The Left-Handers Club in the United Kingdom introduced International Left-Handers Day in 1992. This day highlights the significance of acknowledging and supporting left-handed individuals.
3. They are more intelligent than right
Left-handed individuals exhibit a more diverse brain organization compared to right-handed individuals. They can process verbal information using both sides of the brain. In contrast, right-handed individuals have a more organized brain division, where the right hemisphere is responsible for visuospatial processing, and the left hemisphere handles verbal processing. Because lefties can process oral information on both sides of the brain, they have the ability to handle larger amounts of data and are believed to have higher intelligence levels than their right-handed counterparts.
4. Faster recovery from strokes
When strokes affect the left side of the brain, it can impact language abilities. Approximately 95% of right-handed individuals have their language functions controlled by the left side of their brain. In contrast, only 70% of left-handed individuals have their language functions governed by the left side. This difference contributes to the observation that a higher proportion of left-handed individuals are able to regain control over their language abilities after experiencing a stroke compared to their right-handed counterparts.
5. More artistic
Left-handed individuals tend to be more artistic because their dominant hemisphere is associated with the awareness of art, creativity, and imagination. The dominant hemisphere for lefties often plays a significant role in visual processing, making them more inclined towards visual information rather than language-based information. This preference for visual stimuli can contribute to their heightened artistic abilities and a stronger connection to creative and imaginative pursuits.
6. Left handed people use the right side of the brain the most
The brain is cross-wired, meaning the right side controls the left side of the body. A saying goes, ‘only left-handed people are in their right minds.’ The right brain is thought to handle arts and creativity for the left side. However, a 2018 study suggests tasks may be shared more equally between brain hemispheres. It’s crucial to note the study was small, and more research is needed to understand the brain-body relationship fully.
Let us know your thoughts about these facts in the comment section below!
