Do "right-armed" lefthanders have different lateralization of motor control for the proximal and distal musculature?
Geschwind and Galaburda (1985) have suggested that specialization for the control of distal and proximal musculature might be located in different hemispheres in some individuals. Because inconsistent lefthanders (as defined by Ponton, 1987; Peters and Servos, 1989) tend to write with the left hand but throw with the right arm, and have a stronger right arm (Peters, 1990), it was thought that individuals in this group might provide evidence for the prediction made by Geschwind and Galaburda. This did not prove to be the case for tapping speed, where righthanders, inconsistent and consistent lefthanders all showed congruence. It appears that the question "are some left-handers right-armed?" can be answered only relative to specific activities.
Peters
M
M
Dept. Psychology, University of Guelph.
Pang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006236:Handwriting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values