30 curious facts and falsehoods about being left-handed

30 curious facts and falsehoods about being left-handed - Throughout the ages, left-handed people have been known for their artistic creativity and knack with numbers. But they've also been discriminated against, accused of witchcraft and Devil-worship. Today, studies have revealed some fascinating facts about this minority while righting some wrongs along the way. So, whether you're "lefty" or merely right-handed here are some curious revelations to think about.

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History - History has recorded that being left-handed was seen as a mark of the devil or a sign of neurosis. It could indicate a rebellious streak, or even criminal tendencies. Or it was simply regraded as an unpleasant habit. Conversely, others thought it an expression of skill and creativity.

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Sporting types - Left-handed people tend to stand out more in sports such as tennis, baseball, swimming, and fencing.

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Do the math - A study by the Universidade de Liverpool and Milan revealed that left-handed people tend to be better at solving mathematical problems than their right-handed counterparts.

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More brainy - According Live Science, although most right-handers use the left hemisphere of the brain when processing language, this doesn't mean that left-handers are more likely to use the right hemisphere. A study at the University of Wellington in New Zealand found that 70% of left-handed people also use the left side of the brain for language processing.

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Left-Handers Day - Since 1996, August 13 has been designated International Left-Handers Day.

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Left hand, wrong hand - In some cultures, greeting with the left hand is a sign of disrespect and lack of education.

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Left for the Devil - Christianity has traditionally associated the devil with being left-handed, and some representations of the figure show this.

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Superstitions - In some countries, a person with an itch of the left hand is about to lose money while an itch on the right hand indicates a forthcoming windfall.

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Creative streak - Other studies have shown that in addition to an aptitude for math, lefties make good architects. In fact, they seem to excel In anything creative.

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Autism - According to research, those with autism are more likely to be left-handed.

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Spaced out - One in four Apollo astronauts was left-handed.

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Luck of the Scottish - In Scotland there is a saying that those down on their luck must have been baptized by a left-handed priest.

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Spelling it out - Witches are said to cast spells with their left hand.

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Down the years - An estimated 10 to 15% of the world's population is left-handed, and archaeological studies suggest that this figure has remained the same for 500,000 years, according Royal Society Publishing.

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Geniuses through the ages - Some of society's greatest intellectual geniuses were left-handed. This includes Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Benjamin Franklin.

(Foto: CC BY 2.0)

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A pair of left hands - Research reveals that the probability of being left-handed is higher among twins.

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Paws for thought - A study conducted in Belfast found that most male cats have a tendency to be left-handed, according The Irish News.

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Others left standing - Research carried out in 2006 suggests that left-handed people playing computer games are quicker at formulating strategies than their right-handed counterparts.

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The right position - Although it's not clear why some people are born left-handed, there is evidence that the positioning of the fetus in the womb can be a decisive factor.

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The Inquisition - The Catholic Church did not look favorably upon left-handed people. During the Inquisition, suffering from "left-handism" was enough to get you burned at the stake.

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Clumsy Irish? - In Ireland, left-handers are called "ciotóg," an uncomplimentary term meaning clumsy person.

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Writing back to front - Besides being one of the most famous artists in the world, Leonardo da Vinci was also one of the most celebrated lefties. When writing privately he would start at the right side of the page and move it left. This is known as mirror writing.

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Left alone - In Islamic culture people are forbidden to eat with their left hand, which is considered dirty because it is used to wash after defecation.

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Tribes and civilizations - The Inca believed left-handed people were capable of healing and were possessed of magical powers. Similarly, the Native American Zuni tribe associates lefties with good luck.

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Left-handed kids - Statistically, women over the age of 40 are more likely to have left-handed children.

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Multitasking - Connections between the right and left sides of the brain are faster in left-handed people, suggesting that lefties are more efficient at performing tasks simultaneously.

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IQ - Tests conducted by St. Lawrence University in New York discovered that more left-handed people scored an IQ of over 140 than right-handed, according ABC News.

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Tennis aces - Tennis ace Rafael Nadal began playing tennis with his right hand but later switched to his left, joining a growing list of tennis players who are left-handed.

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Going mobile - There are now companies specializing in selling mobile devices and accessories designed for left-handed users.

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Left-handed muppets - Most muppets are left-handed as the puppeteer uses his right hand to operate the head while operating the arm rod with his left hand.

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