Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!ames!lll-winken!ncis.llnl.gov!afit-ab!efrethei
From: efrethei@afit-ab.arpa (Erik J. Fretheim)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: left handed
Message-ID: <855@afit-ab.arpa>
Date: 26 Jan 89 01:09:02 GMT
References: <725@htsa.uucp>
Reply-To: efrethei@blackbird.afit.af.mil (Erik J. Fretheim)
Distribution: na
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology; WPAFB, OH
Lines: 30

In article <725@htsa.uucp> fransvo@htsa.uucp (Frans van Otten) writes:
>Inspired by the current discussion on left/right brain halves, I wonder
>about left handed people:
>
>Most people are right-handed.  This means that their left brain part is
>dominant over the right brain part.  But what is different with left-
>handed people ?  Is it only that the right brain part is dominant over
>the left brain part ?  What would this mean for total brain operation ?


I recently read the book "Cerebral Lateralization" by Geschwind and
Galaburda.  This book is a must for anyone interested in this area.
Although I do not agree with all of their conclusions they present 
a lot of interesting material and ask a lot of probing questions.  
   There basic line is that there is no hard fast lefthandedness or
righthandedness only variing degrees.  Handedness is only one facet of
abnormal patterns of lateralization within the brain.  Take for example
hearing.  To which ear do you place the telephone receiver.  How often
do you need to switch it to the other ear to write, or scrunch your 
shoulder to hold it while you write.  Wouldn't it be easier to just answer
with your non-writing hand like some people do?  There are many other 
ways in which people demonstrate sidedness.
   The authors also discus possible causes for changes in side dominance.
Although, I think they may dwell a little to long on sex hormones, but
then everyone has his/her/its hangups.  After all, I once had an English
teacher who was convince that all literature was sexual release.   At least
it made the class interesting.  (and the tests easy - all you had to do 
was write about sex to get a good grade).

ejf