A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:This isn't exactly a relationship but a question about human biology... it's not sexual but a question about my body. I hope that counts? It's not a serious problem but I'm just dying of curiosity.I don't have a dominant hand and don't think I ever did. My handwriting and drawings with both hands look almost alike and no one can tell the difference. I can't think of any friends who are like me... I know it's rare... but is it ''normal?''This is probably crap but people have told me that ambidextrousness is caused by an abnormality or the result of lack of development. Has anyone heard this? I seriously doubt this but I was wondering what the cause is.This might be the result of the fact that I played music from a young age (and was forced to use both hands). I'm not sure if I was born right handed or completely ambidextrous, but I don't really remember having much of a preference. It isn't something I learned, and it didn't happen as the result of an accident (like breaking my dominant arm) or being forced to use my non dominant arm. I play the guitar (a LOT) but so do loads of other people. As an adult who has studied science I should probably know the answer to this, but I would like to hear from people who have had similar experiences. I've always been curious about this. I know genes are probably a factor but what causes this? It obviously has advantages but I'm just wondering what it means. No one in my immediate family is like me, I think one of my grandmothers was but she also played music, so it may have been learned in her case...? I'm not sure.
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (13 May 2011): I'm the OP... First of all, thanks for your answers.
My writing with both hands has always been very similar. Anon, I have a doubt... even though we're not born with a particular handedness, don't we usually have a gene for a dominant hand?
The thing is, I just don't remember having a dominant hand or a preference!! I was probably born with the gene for right handedness but I never developed that preference, for whatever reason.
I don't remember training myself, but no one has ever told me that anything is seriously wrong with my brain. I had difficulty with spelling as a kid but I suppose that's totally normal, as spelling in English (my first language) is HARD!
I started playing the piano when I was really small (I'm just okay at the piano) and I started with the guitar at a young age, and that may be a factor. Not sure.
A
female
reader, person12345  +, writes (8 May 2011):
 Nothing's wrong with you. It's a cool skill is all. It's useful, don't worry about it.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (8 May 2011): Our brain is divided into two parts called right and left cerebral hemisphere. During birth both of them have the same capability. But gradually one of them takes upper hand and gets dominant. In most of the people the left one is dominant and controls the right side, in a minority right is dominant and controls the left side. . . So i think in ambidextrous people both of the hemispheres are codominant. . . And be assured it is not due to any abnormality or defect in development. . . You are different but totally normal. . .
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (8 May 2011): Optimally in young children we would like to see them develop a particular handedness as it suggests brain lateralisation - the maturation/domination of a particular side (either right or left) of the brain. In some cases when children fail to develop a particular handedness it may be a sign that the brain has not matured properly and is confused, and can result in deficits like language problems (not sure about the exact %). But of course if you have trained yourself to use both hands it's certainly not that you have an abnormal or underdeveloped brain, esp if people havent told you they think you have problems :Dyou can search up brain lateralisation on wikipedia :)
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A
male
reader, Cerberus_Raphael  +, writes (8 May 2011):
 Ambidexterity is rare but it isn't a sign of any illness, it isn't a symptom of a mental health problem, it literally is just the ability to use one hand just as well as the other. It's an advantage.
I hope that helps.
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