title: Differences in divergent thinking as a function of handedness and sex.
abstract: The relationship between handedness and divergent thinking was explored in four studies. Experiment 1 (N = 556) used the Alternate Uses Test, Experiment 2 (N = 941) tested object synthesis, and Experiment 3 (N = 965) tested ideational flexibility. No difference as a function of handedness was found in Experiment 1, but in Experiments 2 and 3 divergent thinking was significantly related to handedness in males. Left-handed males had higher divergent thinking scores, and the scores rose systematically with increasing sinistrality. Handedness was not related to divergent thinking ability in females. Experiment 4 (N = 1,548) showed that these differences were not associated with superiority by left-handed individuals in convergent thinking. Interpretations based on altered neurological development due to factors such as fetal testosterone exposure are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003405:Creativity; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012737:Sex Factors; D013739:Testosterone
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone