The psychology of brain asymmetry, with Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD | Speaking of Psychology

Left-handers make up about 10.6 percent of the world’s population. Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD, talks about why handedness and other brain asymmetries exist; the genetic and environmental factors that influence handedness; whether there’s any truth to the stereotype that lefties are more creative; why “pawedness” is common in cats, dogs, and other non-human animals; and why left-handed people are underrepresented in brain research.

00:00 Intro to The psychology of brain asymmetry
01:26 Meet Dr. Sebastian Ocklenburg
02:21 How common is left-handedness?
02:59 Why some countries have higher percentages
03:58 What determines handedness? Genetics, prenatal experiences
05:30 Handedness caused by the brain
07:11 How early in life does handedness emerge?
08:32 Why is it more common for people to be right-handed?
08:58 Left-handedness/pawedness more common in animals
10:21 Why people aren’t more ambidextrous?
12:38 Mixed handedness vs ambidexterity
14:44 Handedness/pawedness in animals, asymmetry across the animal kingdom
18:10 Brains of left-handed vs. right-handed people
19:07 Handedness, footedness and eye preference
20:06 Sensory biases: favorite side to hug, taste food, high-five
21:39 Are creative artistic people more likely to be left-handed?
23:09 Success of left-handed athletes
24:49 Neurodivergent people more likely to be left- or right-handed?
25:54 Interest in handedness, brain and behavior
27:07 Handedness in social media
27:45 Underrepresentation of left-handedness in research studies
30:04 Find unique ways to analyze data including left-handed people
32:02 Closing thoughts: non-dominant hand training, neuroscience, handedness in psychology
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