New research reveals why most people are right-handed?

You may have noticed in cricket that some batters are called right-handed while others are left-handed. But why are most people right-handed?

According to estimates, around 9 out of every 10 people around the world use their right hand for everyday tasks. Scientists have been researching this question for decades yet it still remains somewhat mysterious why most people are right-handed. However, a new study has offered some possible answers.

Research conducted by University of Oxford suggests that the human brain plays a major role in determining hand dominance. The study found that certain specific regions of the brain are linked to right-handedness.

Researchers explained that when humans first evolved to walk upright, our preference for a dominant hand became different from that of other animals. The study also found that hand preference begins developing in the womb and becomes more firmly established during childhood.

According to researchers, environmental and developmental factors also play an important role alongside natural biological tendencies. The scientists admitted that they still do not fully understand why humans prefer using one side of the body more than the other but the study has revealed an important clue.

They added that this is the first study to shed light on multiple aspects of human hand dominance. According to the researchers, the findings suggest that hand preference may be connected to traits that make us uniquely human especially upright walking and the evolution of the large human brain.

The study also identified a connection between smaller brain volume, less upright movement and more flexible hand preference. Researchers further stated that if a person starts using the left hand instead of the right changes in brain functions can also occur.

Previous studies on the topic suggested that social pressure may also be a factor. For thousands of years, societies have largely been dominated by right-handed people and most tools and objects have been designed for right-handed use. This influence may have continued across generations.

Some experts believe the explanation lies inside the brain itself. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body while the right side of the brain controls the left side. Most people tend to rely more heavily on the left side of the brain which is associated with language and other important abilities.

As a result, the right hand becomes dominant. Although genes are considered important in this matter, scientists are puzzled by the fact that even left-handed parents are still more likely to have right-handed children. Researchers have not yet identified the exact genes responsible for increasing the likelihood of left-handedness.

In 2019, a study involving data from 400,000 people identified four genetic regions linked to right- or left-handedness. However, other studies suggest that dozens of genes may influence whether a person writes or plays sports with the right or left hand.

Some research has even indicated that whether a child will prefer the left or right hand may already be determined before birth. So, the short answer is that there are many theories and researchers are still struggling to connect all the pieces together.

In other words, scientists still cannot say with certainty what the exact reason is but they continue working hard to find the answer. And once they solve that mystery, another question will remain: why are some people able to use both hands equally well?