On the Other Hand : Left Hand, Right Brain, Mental Disorder, and History

Does being left-handed make a person different in any way that matters? Since the late Stone Age, approximately 10 percent of humans have been left-handed, yet for most of human history left-handedness has been stigmatized. In On the Other Hand , Howard I. Kushner traces the impact of left-handedness on human cognition, behavior, culture, and health. A left-hander himself, Kushner has long been interested in the meanings associated with left-handedness, and ultimately with whether hand preference can even be defined in a significant way. As he explores the medical and cultural history of left-handedness, Kushner describes the associated taboos, rituals, and stigma from around the globe. The words left and left hand have negative connotations in all languages, and left-handers have even historically been viewed as disabled. In this comprehensive history of left-handedness, Kushner asks why left-handedness exists. He examines the relationshipif anybetween handedness, linguistics, and learning disabilities, reveals how toleration of left-handedness serves as a barometer of wider cultural toleration and permissiveness, and wonders why the reported number of left-handers is significantly lower in Asia and Africa than in the West. Written in a lively style that mixes personal biography with scholarly research, On the Other Hand tells a comprehensive story about the science, traditions, and prejudices surrounding left-handedness. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 3 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Preface 10 Chapter 1. Genes and Kangaroos 18 Chapter 2. Criminals or Victims?: Cesare Lombroso vs. Robert Hertz 33 Chapter 3. By the Numbers: Measuring Handedness 47 Chapter 4. Ambiguous Attitudes 62 Chapter 5. Changing Hands, Tying Tongues 75 Chapter 6. From Genes to Populations: The Search for a Cause 96 Chapter 7. The Geschwind Hypothesis 108 Chapter 8. Genetic Models and Selective Advantage 123 Chapter 9. Uniquely Human? 133 Chapter 10. A Gay Hand? 146 Chapter 11. Disability, Ability, and the Left Hand 155 Conclusion: Does Left-Handedness Matter? 165 Acknowledgments 172 Notes 176 Index 210