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Related Experiment Videos

Human handedness: a partial cross-fostering study.

R E Hicks, M Kinsbourne

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |May 28, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary

    Human handedness in college students showed a significant link to their biological parents' writing hands, suggesting a genetic influence. This correlation was not observed with stepparents, reinforcing the genetic theory of handedness.

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    Area of Science:

    • Human genetics
    • Behavioral neuroscience
    • Developmental psychology

    Background:

    • Hand preference, or handedness, is a complex human trait with debated origins.
    • Previous research suggests potential genetic and environmental factors influencing handedness.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between the handedness of college students and their parents' writing hands.
    • To explore the role of genetics versus upbringing in the inheritance of human handedness.

    Main Methods:

    • Survey data collected from college students regarding their own hand preference.
    • Inquiry into the writing hand of biological and stepparents for comparison.

    Main Results:

    • A significant correlation was found between student handedness and the writing hand of biological parents.
    • No significant correlation was observed between student handedness and the writing hand of stepparents.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings support a genetic theory for the origin of human handedness.
    • Inherited genetic factors appear to play a more substantial role in determining handedness than environmental influences from stepparents.

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