Handedness and Asymmetry of Motor Skill Learning in Right-handers.
OBJECTIVE
The most remarkable behavioral asymmetry is handedness. The preferred hand often has better performance, motor strength, nonpreferred hand. However, whether these components are associated with skill learning is not clear.


METHODS
We evaluated healthy right-handers by setting a series of motor-performance tasks including skill learning, grip strength, and speed.


RESULTS
The preferred hand showed better skill performance and learning rate. However, the degree of the right-left difference in grip strength or speed difference did not correlate with the asymmetry in skill-learning rate. Therefore, although the preferred hand exhibits a better skill-learning capacity than the nonpreferred hand, asymmetry in skill learning cannot be explained by motor strength or speed.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that better skill performance of the right hand in right-handers cannot be attributed to the degree of hand preference score, strength, or motor speed.
Cho
Jinwhan
J
Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Kyung-Seok
KS
Kim
Manho
M
Park
Seong-Ho
SH
Neuropsychologia. 1991;29(12):1163-77
1838793
Behav Genet. 1995 Sep;25(5):447-55
7487841
Can J Psychol. 1990 Dec;44(4):512-21
2292088
Neuropsychologia. 1979;17(3-4):315-21
514469
Cortex. 1977 Mar;13(1):30-43
844306
Can J Psychol. 1987 Mar;41(1):91-9
3502890
Behav Brain Res. 1990 May 7;38(2):109-16
2363832
Psychol Bull. 1991 Sep;110(2):237-53
1946868
Behav Brain Res. 1994 Oct 20;64(1-2):141-9
7840880
Br J Psychol. 1975 Feb;66(1):39-52
1131479
Exp Brain Res. 1999 Jun;126(4):451-8
10422707
Neuropsychologia. 1996 Feb;34(2):127-37
8852875
Hum Neurobiol. 1983;2(2):77-85
6313556
Percept Mot Skills. 1987 Feb;64(1):155-70
3562181
Exp Brain Res. 1998 Feb;118(3):435-8
9497152
Neuropsychologia. 1998 Oct;36(10):1015-24
9845048
Percept Mot Skills. 1998 Aug;87(1):83-9
9760629
Int J Neurosci. 1990 Aug;53(2-4):75-85
2265951
Neuropsychologia. 1989;27(6):893-7
2755598
Science. 1976 Sep 17;193(4258):1148-50
986686
Cortex. 1986 Mar;22(1):33-53
3709192
Psychol Bull. 1991 Jan;109(1):76-89
2006230
Psychol Med Monogr Suppl. 1985;8:1-40
3863155
Behav Brain Res. 1994 Oct 20;64(1-2):173-8
7840884
Percept Mot Skills. 1993 Oct;77(2):691-700
8247695
Neuropsychologia. 1995 Aug;33(8):923-36
8524454