Ambidextrous is a person whose left and right hemispheres of the brain are harmoniously developed, but does this mean harmonious development and what are the characteristics of such people? Ambidexterity can be developed - it is useful for both left-handers and right-handers. Intuition, imaginative thinking, along with iron will and logic help to be successful in any type of activity.
Acquired and congenital ambidexterity
All children are born ambidextrous. But by the age of four they lose the ability to use both hands at the same time. This is largely due to parental influence, the intervention of doctors and teachers. The child is forced from all sides to use his right hand. With it he holds a spoon, a cup. One is taught to write with the right hand. As a result, such children turn out to be excellent performers in the future, but without creativity.
Acquired ambidexterity is the result of training a less developed hand (the return of the ability to use both hands well at the same time, lost in childhood).
Facts about ambidextrous people
- Ambidextrous people make decisions faster.
- Such people can multitask easily.
- The IQ level of ambidextrous people is higher than that of left-handers and right-handers.
- Among the famous and most prominent ambidexters are Leonardo da Vince, Jimi Hendrix and Maria Sharapova.
- Ambidexterity can be congenital (1% of children) or acquired, developed independently.
- Ambidextrous people are hyperactive.
- Ambidextrous people can write the same word or draw the same shape with both hands at the same time.
Ambidexterity - what is it, neurasthenia?
Symptoms of ambidexterity are similar to neurasthenia. But this is not a disease. The fact is that ambidextrous people get tired quickly. But mental fatigue should not be confused with retardation. All the whims, hysterics and stress of ambidextrous people only provide the tired body with the necessary release. After such “explosions” people become calmer.
These violent emotions are the result of the action of the right hemisphere. The left is responsible for logic and is unable to perceive information that does not fit into it. Therefore, ambidextrous people may become touchy. And this is a sign of overstrain of the right hemisphere of the brain.
Scientists call neurasthenia an overstrain of thought processes. In this case, sometimes emotional release is impossible if fatigue occurs in the left hemisphere. The best option for relieving stress is to add emotions and reduce mental stress. Walk, dance, become romantic at least for a while.
Test to determine the leading hemisphere
To determine the presence of ambidexterity, you can conduct a simple test consisting of five tasks. There is no need to think before performing them; actions should be performed automatically and repeated several times.
- Close your fingers in a “lock”.
- Applaud.
- Cross your arms.
- Aim with both eyes alternately.
- Untie a few knots.
If the organs or parts of the body involved alternately change, we can talk about equivalent development of both hemispheres of the brain.
Is it possible to develop ambidexterity?
Almost all people are already ambidextrous at birth. But as they grow older, they lose this unique quality. And they begin to use only one hand more often. Mostly on the right. But ambidexterity can be restored. It develops through training. To maintain ambidexterity in a child of a pregnant mother, rhythmic music can be played more often.
What does ambidexterity give? According to research by psychologists and neurophysiologists, brain development continues until about sixty years of age. Up to fifty, there is usually a clear separation between the hemispheres. But in his sixties, a person can easily use them simultaneously. This allows you to solve complex problems more successfully than in your youth.
Ambidexterity - psychological characteristics
Ambidexterity - what kind of person is this, and how does ambidexterity affect the brain? These questions are still largely open, because there are very few such people on planet Earth - only 1% of the total. The study of psychological characteristics is carried out mainly by observation, by taking an encephalogram and by analyzing handwriting by graphologists. Ambidexters have a contradictory nature, are neurasthenic and very touchy throughout their lives, but among them there are many brilliant, sensitive people who show the world something valuable: scientific discoveries, works of art.
Pros and cons of ambidexterity
First we need to consider the term itself. So, ambidexterity - what is it? The concept can be described in simple words. This is the ability not only to write with both hands, but also to perform all other tasks with ease.
According to scientists, each hemisphere of the brain is responsible for muscle impulses of the left or right limb. Moreover, a feature of the human body is cross-control. That is, the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for the work of the left hand, and vice versa.
What are the advantages of ambidexterity? Using both hands at the same time or performing different tasks with either hand is a clear advantage. It can be useful not only in everyday life, but also in sports, music, and art. The level of development of ambidextrous children is slightly higher than that of an ordinary child. Suffice it to recall some celebrities who became famous thanks to their talents. For example, Benjamin Franklin, Paul McCartney and many others.
Another example can be given. More often than not, people have a dominant hand, which is the most developed. If it is damaged, a person cannot write or perform a number of other actions. The second hand, “not accustomed” to them, will cope with many manipulations poorly or not at all. With ambidexterity, a person is equally good at both. This means that temporary dysfunction of one hand will not significantly affect his life.
But there are also disadvantages to ambidexterity. Such people are often very sensitive, easily irritated, and suffer from sudden mood swings. They may exhibit some clumsiness and awkwardness. And the chance of developing attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is twice as high as the average person.
Is your child ambidextrous? Recommendations for educators and parents
The main principle of raising a child is the axiom about the individuality of a small person. Parents are often at a loss: to accept the baby’s characteristics or try to correct them. There is no point in putting pressure on a child or retraining him. It is recommended to support the baby and promote his diversified development in every possible way.
Due to behavioral characteristics, adults face difficulties in communication or proper organization of the learning space. There are several unspoken rules that will help you communicate with your child, as well as successfully suppress the manifestation of the negative properties of ambidexterity.
- The difficulty that adults face is hyperactivity. There is no point in shouting, punishing or calling for calm. However, it is worth trying to direct energy in a peaceful direction. Over time, the child will learn self-control. The main recommendation is to always keep your little fidget in sight.
- A special child learns educational material easier and faster than his peers. In an educational institution, such children often become bored. Additional tasks come to the aid of educators and teachers. It is worth considering the specifics of the work, which must meet two criteria.
- Easy difficulty level. Do not forget that such children are prone to frequent overwork. Doing exercises in class, coupled with additional workload, can negatively affect the well-being and emotional state of the child.
- Creative logic. Completing the task should be aimed at developing both hemispheres. Frequent differentiation of requirements will increase the difference in the development of types of thinking.
- If the child is excited or upset, the adult needs to maintain a calm, even tone. This will help not only avoid conflicts, but also clearly demonstrate the ability to cope with emotions.
Psychologist works with children
If parents experience particular difficulties in communicating and raising a child, it is recommended to consult psychologists. They will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and formulate individual recommendations.
Development of ambidexterity
If there is an ambidextrous person in the family, there is no need to try to change him. Let him remain himself. (We have already said, “ambidexterity,” what this means. This means that both hands can perform the same functions. Moreover, any actions quickly and efficiently.)
Some people have this ability after birth and continue throughout their lives. But most often she disappears in childhood. Usually the emphasis is on the right hand. However, there is not only congenital, but also acquired ambidexterity. If desired, it can be developed with special training.
For example, slowly writing the alphabet with a hand that is less developed. Pay attention to what details in this lesson turn out poorly, and focus on this. Then start writing words, phrases and texts. Everything needs to be done slowly, you can’t rush. You can develop ambidexterity if you try to do all actions not with your dominant hand, but with the one that is less developed.
Definition of the concept
Ambidexterity - what is it? There is such a concept - “leading hand” . This means that a person has one hand that functions more actively.
There are significantly more right-handed people all over the world: people who write, cut, eat and do many other things with their right hand.
There are fewer left-handers, although not as few as statistics show: a huge number of left-handers have simply been retrained for right-handers who are more “convenient” for the education system.
And there are also people for whom it is impossible to identify this very “leading hand”. They cope equally well with basic actions with both the right and left hands. That's why they are called ambidextrous.
Ambidextrous:
- differ in that the functioning of both hands is equally developed;
- the speed and accuracy of actions performed with both hands are identical;
- may have innate abilities or acquired abilities for the equivalent functioning of the hands.
An important point: the leading hand is only a noticeable consequence of the greater development of a certain hemisphere of the brain.
In right-handed people, the left hemisphere ( logical ) is more developed; in left-handed people, the right hemisphere ( intuitive-feeling ) is more developed. Consequently, ambidextrous people have both hemispheres equally and harmoniously developed.
Who is ambidextrous? Find out from the video:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
People who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder are most often ambidextrous. They have a very critical attitude towards themselves, the emphasis is on abstract thinking. Based on these signs, we can already say that fatigue has accumulated in the left hemisphere of the brain.
Both cannot work well at the same time. One of the hemispheres of the brain will certainly become overworked. And, at first glance, one can assume that such a person will always be whiny and a failure in life. But there are clear examples that this is far from the case.
It is worth remembering Leonardo da Vinci, the compiler of the dictionary Vladimir Dahl and many other famous people. They were all ambidextrous. But this did not interfere with their careers and lives. They became celebrities who will be remembered for centuries.
What to do with an ambidextrous child
Parents and educators often make mistakes when working with ambidextrous people. The main mistake is putting pressure on the child to choose one driven hand. This should not be done; on the contrary, it is better to develop and encourage this quality.
Such children are more active, but they learn educational material faster than others, so they should be loaded with additional useful tasks. The child’s hyperreactivity should be directed in the right useful direction so that it is beneficial, otherwise the baby will get bored and begin to be capricious. The moods of ambidextrous children are more active and brighter than those of ordinary children.
The nervous system of ambidextrous people gets tired faster, so when working with such children, it is recommended to change their activities more often so that they rest.
In addition, you should not raise your voice or be rude to such a child. They will take it more personally than anyone else. Only thanks to a calm tone can you gain confidence in an ambidextrous child and cooperate with him.
Exercises and tips for training ambidexterity
To be able to use both hands equally well, you need to know how to train ambidexterity. It's pretty simple. Usually a person has a dominant hand (often the right). In this case, it is necessary to load the left one with the work that it usually performs. And try to do everything with this hand. But there are also left-handed people. In this case, the right hand is loaded.
When walking, it is better to change your usual routes and walk in the opposite direction. Start writing with the hand that is less developed. How to develop ambidexterity through exercise? There is a simple, but very effective, lasting fifteen minutes.
Take a piece of paper and two pencils. For fifteen minutes, different geometric shapes are drawn simultaneously with both hands. For example, on the left is a square, and on the right is a rhombus. As soon as this starts to work out well, you need to complicate the exercise. You can start drawing various complex figures, etc.
Meaning of the word
The word concept has Latin roots. The particle ambi is translated as “both”, and dexter is “right side”. That is, literally this is a person with both right hands.
The comparison with the skills of right-handers is due to statistics - there are many more of them than left-handers. An international team of scientists led by Marietta Papadatou-Pastou of the National University of Athens found that only 10.6% of people are left-handed. The study covered more than two million people aged 16 years with different levels of education and citizenship.
Problems in kindergarten and school
There is only one global problem: the fight against the system. Parents, smart and information savvy, are quite capable of creating an environment that will allow the child to develop in both directions and demonstrate his abilities.
But in school and kindergarten, a child can be “broken”, because he may need a special approach, and systemic education does not imply this.
Therefore, it is important for an ambidextrous child :
- so that teachers take into account their hyperactivity, turning a visible disadvantage into an undeniable advantage;
- understand that he is significant, that he is seen - he needs to be given public assignments, make ordinary tasks more difficult, celebrate successes;
- so that the teacher emotionally supports the child - maintains his psychological balance.
The most important thing is to eliminate any pressure in choosing the leading hand , as well as the method of achieving the result.
Re-teaching something if a child has already learned something is definitely harmful for the child; it puts a huge strain on his brain.
What to do if your child is ambidextrous? Expert comment:
Famous ambidextrous celebrities
The most famous, probably, in this area is Gaius Julius Caesar.
For men, multitasking is generally rare; their psyche is rather single-channel; they can do many things, but only one at a time. And personalities such as the Roman emperor are exceptions.
Also among the famous ambidextrous people are:
- Maria Sharapova. The big-time sports star successfully plays with both his right and left hands. Perhaps these unique abilities allowed Masha to achieve such heights.
- Nikola Tesla . This Nobel laureate is also ambidextrous. Who knows, maybe the development of both hemispheres led to his revolutionary research into the magnetic field and alternating current.
- Tom Cruise . The most popular actor is also ambidextrous: perhaps this can explain the fact that Tom Cruise is so good at transforming into radically different characters.
- Till Lindemann . This is a famous multi-instrumentalist, star of the German group Rammstein. By the way, Thiel has mastered several professions at once, which once again emphasizes the special advantages of this psychological phenomenon.
Of course, there are not many ambidextrous people in the world. These people are of interest to researchers, scientists and psychologists, and just the average person.
That’s why such unique people often become heroes of exciting TV series.
