Khaberni - An international team of anthropologists has uncovered an intriguing relationship between the dominant human hand and the position of the heart within the body, which partly explains why right-hand users make up about 90% of the world's population, while left-hand users remain a strategic minority.
The "Fighting Hypothesis" has been known for decades to explain the ongoing presence of left-handers due to their advantage in surprise attacks, yet it has not answered the fundamental question: why do most humans remain right-hand dominant?
The recent study, led by Paul Rodway from the University of Chester in the UK and published in the journal Laterality, introduces a new hypothesis that links the dominant hand with the asymmetrical symmetry of the human body.
Researchers point out that the heart is located on the left side of the chest, giving right-hand users a significant advantage in combat with bladed weapons such as knives and daggers, as the strike path tends to the left side of an opponent, which is more lethal, whereas a left-hander strikes the less threatening right side.
Rodway's team relies on several pieces of evidence to support this theory:
Lethality of injuries: Forensic medical data indicates that stabs on the left side of the chest are more lethal and often lead to death faster.
Evolutionary selection: In group conflicts during the Stone Age, the right hand provided a greater survival advantage and gene transmission to future generations.
Defensive posture: It is easier for a right-hand user to protect their left side, leaving the right hand freer to attack with greater precision.
The new hypothesis complements the old theory, showing that the right hand provides a clear lethal advantage in battles with bladed tools and weapons, while the left hand remains a strategic tool based on the element of surprise, ensuring a dynamic balance in the distribution of hand use throughout human history.
