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Related Experiment Videos

Hemispheric specialization for handwriting in right handers

L Mack1, L J Gonzalez Rothi, K M Heilman

  • 1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620-8100.

Brain and Cognition
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Hand preference is linked to how the brain controls limb movements. Right-handed individuals use more proximal arm muscles when writing or drawing with their non-dominant left hand, suggesting lateralized movement representations are key.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Human Movement Analysis

Background:

  • Hand preference is a complex trait potentially linked to lateralized brain functions, including language and motor control.
  • Hemispheric control over limb movements shows a differential organization: contralateral control for both proximal and distal movements, but limited ipsilateral control to proximal movements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between hand preference and lateralized movement representations.
  • To determine if the differential organization of proximal and distal limb movement control influences hand preference during writing and drawing tasks.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 12 right-handed participants performing writing and drawing tasks with both their right and left hands.
  • Measured the spatial amplitude of elbow movements during these tasks to quantify the extent of proximal versus distal muscle engagement.

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Main Results:

  • Right-handed individuals exhibited greater elbow movement (spatial amplitude) when writing or drawing with their left hand compared to their right hand.
  • This finding indicates increased reliance on proximal musculature when using the non-dominant hand for fine motor tasks.

Conclusions:

  • Lateralized movement representations, specifically the differential control of proximal and distal limb movements by brain hemispheres, are likely the primary factor determining writing hand preference.
  • The findings support the hypothesis that motor control organization plays a more significant role in hand preference than previously thought.