Testing yourself for left-handedness

We all, of course, know in which hand we hold a pen, but how far does this bias extend throughout your body? Are you left-eared? Left-eyed? Here is a simple test you can apply to yourself.

1. Imagine the center of your back is itching. Which hand do you scratch it with?

2. Interlock your fingers. Which thumb is uppermost?

3. Imagine you are applauding. Start clapping your hands. Which hand is uppermost?

4. Wink at an imaginary friend straight in front of you. Which eye does the winking?

5. Put your hands behind your back, one holding the other. Which hand is doing the holding?

6. Someone in front of you is shouting, but you cannot hear the words. Cup your ear to hear better. Which ear do you cup?

7. Count to three on your fingers, using the forefinger of the other hand. Which forefinger do you use?

8. Tilt your head over onto one shoulder. Which shoulder does it touch?

9. Fixate a small distant object with your eyes and point directly at it with your forefinger. Now close one eye. Now change eyes. Which eye was open when the fingertip remained in line with the small object? (When the other eye, the non-dominant one, is open and the dominant eye is closed, the finger will appear to move to one side of the object.)

10. For your arms. Which forearm is uppermost? If you have always considered yourself to be rightor left-handed, you will probably now have discovered that your body is less than total in its devotion to its favored side. If you are right-handed, the chances are that you were able to be “right” most of the time.