Debunking the Left-Handed Creativity Myth: New Research Findings

Recent research challenges the widely held belief that left-handed individuals possess greater creativity. A thorough analysis of studies published since 1900, conducted by researchers from Cornell University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, suggests that right-handed people might actually score higher in creative thinking.

The study, published in the 'Psychonomic Bulletin and Review,' examined the association between handedness and creativity, scrutinizing nearly 1,000 scientific papers. Explorations eventually focused on 17 studies, dismissing the long-standing assumption that left-handed individuals, who make up about 10% of the global population, are inherently more creative.

Senior author Daniel Casasanto highlighted the misconception as a product of statistical cherry-picking, often influenced by the representation of lefties among artists and musicians. However, the research found no substantial evidence that left- or mixed-handers excel in creativity compared to right-handers, who were noted to score higher on divergent thinking, debunking the myth of left-handed creativity.