Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28

"Part of every learning process says Or.
Bolton, consists in increasing muscle size, bone
size and tendon attachment A learning process
also includes the establishing of nerve con-
nections. The third element of the learning
process may be called the mental picture
plain element We gain some left-handed
ability when training the right hand, and vice
versa. One-handed training does not however,
work with equal effectiveness on the other
hand"
This factor is observed in ordinary writing.
The person who writes with his right hand
utilizes different act of motions from the per-
son who writes with his left hand The right
handed person is following an outward motion,
away from the body, while the left-handed
writer is working toward the body.
The r1ght-handed penman may find that his
left hand has unconsciously picked up some of
the motions of writing that have been learned
by the right hand, but they will be toward the
left and will form mirror writing" Similarly
the left-handed writer, using the right hand to
initiate the left-hand movements, will naturally
push the pencil toward the left
Eye training differs, according to DIR. Bolton
in reading from left to right, as opposed to
reading from right to left. This, he explains
is overcome in the bilateral movements o6 the
japanese, who read upward giving an equal
movement to both eyes,
I'm the right-handed person." says Dr. Boil
ton, the right arm is thicker, heavier and
longer. The right leg is stronger.
THE left side of the brain directs the right
side OF the body and is slightly larger There is
some evidence that the cortex of the brain is
thicker on the left side. In ordinary activities
Tue brain dominates the other The right
handed person has left-sided BRAIN while the
right brain dominates the left-handed person
slight variation leads to the establishment
OF habits. Tendons and muscular develop-
ment play their part. In physical exercises,
such as throwing, there is a gradual change of
body formation that leads to sided activity.
hence the right handed person finds it awkward
10 attempt such activities with the left hand.
III Is through new activity in which both
hahos are given equal practice that we can
learn the true comparative abilities of the
hands. We may find that the left outstrips the
rlght In such exercises, despite the fact that the
person performing the test is convinced that ne
is right-handed."
)H. BOTTOMS experiments point to the fact
mat there are probably natural differences
between the two hands, and that no amount ~
practice VIII suffice ta make them alike. while
.iefe are persons in whom the two hands seem
70 nave equal learning power, in all other casoS
one hand learns more and learns with Greet
rapidity than the other. "'0'
Feople are not simply right-handed left-
handed and ambidextrous; there are all GRADE
tlohs between the extreme forms of right.
hahoeoneSs and left-handedness
inasmuch as the development of the in6,-
Wouai depends in measure upon the naturaI
endowments of the body. any tests which reveal
speclaI abilities or lack Of them are of impor-
lance. Their introduction as an ironorta-,4
phase OF psychological experimentation ofyers
great advantages and possibilities.
Tne results of DR.. Bottoms experiments havad
demonstrated that me abilities of individuals
are widely varied SC n As potential ambidex-
terity is concerrn,1 = !