On the other hand: including left-handers in cognitive neuroscience and neurogenetics

RM Willems, LV der Haegen, SE Fisher… - Nature reviews …, 2014 - nature.com
Nature reviews neuroscience, 2014nature.com
Left-handers are often excluded from study cohorts in neuroscience and neurogenetics in
order to reduce variance in the data. However, recent investigations have shown that the
inclusion or targeted recruitment of left-handers can be informative in studies on a range of
topics, such as cerebral lateralization and the genetic underpinning of asymmetrical brain
development. Left-handed individuals represent a substantial portion of the human
population and therefore left-handedness falls within the normal range of human diversity; …
Abstract
Left-handers are often excluded from study cohorts in neuroscience and neurogenetics in order to reduce variance in the data. However, recent investigations have shown that the inclusion or targeted recruitment of left-handers can be informative in studies on a range of topics, such as cerebral lateralization and the genetic underpinning of asymmetrical brain development. Left-handed individuals represent a substantial portion of the human population and therefore left-handedness falls within the normal range of human diversity; thus, it is important to account for this variation in our understanding of brain functioning. We call for neuroscientists and neurogeneticists to recognize the potential of studying this often-discarded group of research subjects.
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