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handedness

Handedness refers to the consistent preference for using one hand over the other to perform skilled tasks, reflecting functional asymmetry in the brain. It encompasses strong right- or left-handedness as well as mixed-handedness or ambidexterity. The dominant hand is typically more accurate and faster in activities such as writing, throwing, or tool use, but the degree of preference varies among individuals.

Across populations, about 85 to 90 percent of people are right-handed, with left-handed individuals making up

Development of handedness begins early in life and becomes more stable with age. It arises from a

Neurobiologically, handedness relates to the lateralization of brain networks. Right-handedness is often associated with left-hemisphere dominance

Measurement typically uses inventories such as the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, which yields a laterality quotient reflecting

Ambidexterity is relatively uncommon and may reflect adaptive skill across contexts. Handedness has implications for ergonomics,

roughly
10
to
15
percent.
A
smaller
portion
demonstrate
mixed-handedness,
showing
no
strong
bias
across
different
tasks.
Variability
exists
among
groups
and
over
time,
influenced
by
cultural,
environmental,
and
methodological
factors.
combination
of
genetic
predispositions,
patterns
of
brain
lateralization
related
to
language
and
motor
control,
and
experiential
factors
such
as
practice
and
social
constraints.
While
heredity
contributes,
no
single
gene
determines
handedness;
multiple
genes
with
small
effects,
prenatal
influences,
and
early
experiences
all
play
roles.
for
language,
but
this
relationship
is
not
absolute,
and
left-handers
may
have
a
variety
of
brain
organization
patterns.
Environmental
and
developmental
factors
can
modulate
the
strength
of
hand
preference.
the
strength
and
direction
of
hand
preference.
Other
task-specific
assessments
also
contribute
to
characterizing
handedness.
design
of
tools
and
interfaces,
and
learning
of
motor
skills,
with
cultural
attitudes
sometimes
shaping
individual
experiences.