       (Translate this site) |
| Search this site | | Site map | Site author | Site store | >>> | Latest site updates | <<< | Access Google's cache of this site |
|
Alternative (mirror site) links | Translate this site | | Site search | Site map | Site author | | Access Google's cache of this site |
|
| -- "Humans Switched To Fast Food When Slow Prey Ran Out" By Maggie Fox, Reuters Limited, http://dailynews.yahoo.com/, 1-9-99 |
Note that by now the majority of humanity has likely become right-handed. Why? Perhaps because of the differences in vulnerability to ingesting mind-altering substances-- since left-handedness and right-handedness traits seem to be accompanied by such differences in psychoactive susceptibility.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The differences between left-handed and right-handed people described here are meant only to apply on average, not as absolutes. That is, some right-handed people will possess certain left-handed attributes, and vice versa. And then there's the ambidextrous to consider as well...Please keep such exceptions in mind as this item is examined. END NOTE.
Right-handed people are less sensitive to neuro-toxins than left-handed people. As early humanity often encountered periods of starvation, as well as gradually roamed over more and widely varying terrain and climates, experimentation in foodstuffs was essential. Some plants and animals however contain nerve toxins, and would have done anything from kill or sicken eaters, to bring on hallucinations which would have made them much more vulnerable to accidents or attacks by other people or animals. Ergo, lefthanders, being more vulnerable to such effects, would have died at a higher rate, leaving the predominantly right-handed population humanity will consist of by 1999 AD.
Of course, it isn't a 'clean sweep' for righthanders; a small percentage of left-handers also survive the toxic foods filter, either by accident or some competitive advantage(s) over right-handers in another area, somewhat narrower in scope than resistance to psychoactive food and drink. What might such advantages be?
|
Between six and sixteen percent of 20th century humans are left-handed. Besides the differences noted above with right-handers, left-handedness is also associated with a higher incidence of epilepsy and learning disorders than right-handedness.
-- WHY MOST PEOPLE ARE RIGHT-HANDED From Science Frontiers Digest of Scientific Anomalies #36, NOV-DEC 1984 by William R. Corliss, citing Liz Grist; "Why Most People Are Right-Handed," New Scientist, 22, August 16, 1984 |
Left-handed advantages may lie in certain intellectual capacities (among other things). For instance, there's some hints of broader and deeper connections between the two brain hemispheres of left-handers compared to right-handers. The corpus callosum of left-handers is some 11 percent greater in size than that of right-handers, indicating greater integration of both brain hemispheres in processing information. Lefthanders' brain functions also tend to be less specialized into particular brain regions than right-handers, possibly rendering left-handers more hologramic in their brain functionality. Thus, this might imply that in cases of severe brain or nervous system injury or disease, the left-handers might enjoy faster healing and recovery than right-handers. Such capacities could prove useful in recovery from strokes, for instance. Keep in mind though that the interface bias in the modern world could itself be the cause of the larger corpus callosum in left-handers, developed to help them better cope with the prejudicial man-made environment around them. Or, the bigger corpus callosum may simply be a requirement to support the more generalized functionality of the left-handed's brain. Too, higher generalization of brain function may mean greater redundancy and therefore less efficiency overall. Which may leave lefties better able to bounce back after brain damage, but allow undamaged righties to outdo undamaged lefties in certain deep intellectual pursuits.
| -- LEFT-HANDERS HAVE LARGER INTERBRAIN CONNECTIONS From Science Frontiers Digest of Scientific Anomalies #42, NOV-DEC 1985 by William R. Corliss, citing Sandra F. Witelson; "The Brain Connection: The Corpus Callosum is Larger in Left-Handers, " Science, 229:665, 1985 |
Another intellectual advantage of left-handers could be greater resistance to suggestion or persuasion; of course, this may also point to greater aggressiveness on the part of left-handers in general, and could just as easily be a disadvantage in many situations as a boon. For instance, it might lead lefties to question everything they are shown or told, which could slow them down in traditional education and training environments. But in cases of brainwashing, harmful peer pressures, con games, and cult indoctrination it would seem an extra defensive edge for the lefties. They may not so easily be talked into things as their right-handed brethren. One clue to all this is the greater difficulty in hypnotizing the left-handed relative to the right-handed. Righties concentrate more easily and intently than lefties. On the down side, it would seem someone like an Einstein (deep thinker) would require a right-handed disposition. On the other hand, a leftie may be less likely to suffer a surprise attack due their typically "broader attention" to the environment around them than righties. A leftie might also more easily attain and maintain a position of leadership than a rightie, given these tendencies.
| -- IT'S EASIER TO HYPNOTIZE RIGHT-HANDERS From Science Frontiers Digest of Scientific Anomalies #39, MAY-JUN 1985 by William R. Corliss, citing Liz Grist; "Hypnosis Relies on Left-Brain Dominance," New Scientist, 36, August 2, 1984 |
In the future world of the 20th century, left-handers will be much more subject to serious accidents throughout their lives than right-handers. This may help bring about the fact that only around one percent of surviving 80 year olds will be left-handed in the late 20th century (lefties hold their own mortality-wise with righties until around age 33, after which the tide turns decidedly against them).
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I believe I've seen a study somewhere that would challenge somewhat the information above. How? With indications that at least some left-handers switch hand preferences as they get older, perhaps to better cope with the right-handed bias in the environment. If this is so, then the long term survival rate of people who begin life as left-handers may be higher than the above item states. END NOTE.
A major contributor to this high rate of future accidents may be that much of modern society will be built to better serve right-handers (since they are in the majority). This form of 'biased interface' to everyday objects will include many power tools, vehicle controls, and other items.
20th century left-handers will also seem more prone to immune system and neurological problems, as well as smoking, alcoholism, and certain types of cancer, thus lowering their overall life expectancy compared to right-handers (wherever such afflictions are influenced by stress, the built-in bias of future equipment and surroundings may be a contributing factor to the shorter lives).
|
-- GAME OF LIFE FAVORS RIGHT-HANDERS From Science Frontiers Digest of Scientific Anomalies #68, MAR-APR 1990 by William R. Corliss, citing Leigh Dayton; "The Perils of Living in a Right-Handed World," New Scientist, p. 32, October 28, 1989, and Wayne P. London; "Left-Handedness and Life Expectancy," Perceptual and Motor Skills, 68:1040, 1989
-- DO RIGHT-HANDERS LIVE LONGER? From Science Frontiers Digest of Scientific Anomalies #58, JUL-AUG 1988 by William R. Corliss, citing Diane F. Halpern, and Stanley Coren; "Do Right-Handers Live Longer?" Nature, 333:213, 1988 |
Back to the MASTER Table of Contents of the Signposts Timeline