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Left-handed people represent only 10% of the population, and it isnt just their writing hand that sets them apart: lefties tend to be right-brain dominant, a trait that might make them more prone to fear, according to a study in the Journal of Traumatic Stress. The study required participants to view a clip from a horror film and then recount details. Lefties were more likely to give disjointed, repetitive versionsa symptom of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "The prevalence of [PTSD] is almost double in left handers compared to right handers, notes Carolyn Choudhary, Ph.D., the psychologist who led the study, in an interview with The Telegraph. She adds that the right side of the brain may be more involved in the role that fear plays in PTSD. But the same brain tendencies that might put left-handed people at risk for PTSD and other mental health challenges may also be linked to greater creativity and cognitive skills. Heres a closer look at some more surprising facts about lefties.
The potential risks associated with left-handedness dont end with mental health challenges lefties may also have a greater risk of developing pre-menopausal breast cancer. A study published in BMJ found that left-handed women were more than twice as likely to develop pre-menopausal breast cancer than right-handed women. The researchers suspect that exposure to sex hormones may influence the development of brain asymmetry and left-handedness, as well as the risk of breast cancer. Only 165 lefthanded women participated in the study, so more research is needed to confirm the results.
More Accident-Prone
In a world designed for right-handed people, its not surprising that lefties may be more accident-prone. A study on locomotive drivers in India found that 88.9% of left-handed drivers had experienced a locomotive accident, compared to only 16.1% of right-handed drivers. The design of the locomotive cabin and driving console may favor right-handed people, contributing to higher rates of accidents among lefties.
Another recent study, from Northwestern University, explored why a small percentage of people have been left-handed throughout history. Cooperation, the researchers argue, favors people using the same hand, which makes tool-sharing more efficient. Instances of physical competition, however, favor unusual characteristics, giving lefties an advantage in sport and combat. To test their theory, the researchers used sports data to develop a mathematical model that can correctly predict the percentage of lefties in a groupfrom baseball players to golfers to boxers. For example, the model accurately determined that over 50 percent of elite hitters in baseball are left-handed, while only 4 percent of successful PGA golfers favor their left hand. The researchers also note that left-handedness can be partly attributed to genetics and partly to environment. Identical twins, for example, may favor different hands, even though they share the same genetic makeup. The bottom line is this: as long as human societies have both competitive and cooperative aspects, lefties are here to stay.