Are Left-Handed People Smarter?

Famous left-handed people

Some famous lefties include great minds, such as:

• philosopher Aristotle
• French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte
• baseball legend Babe Ruth
• Renaissance artist Leonardo DaVinci
• former president Barack Obama
• Microsoft founder Bill Gates

What does the research say?

The belief that handedness is associated with intelligence has been around for centuries. Research seems to support both sides of the argument. Here’s what studies have shown in favor and against the idea that left-handedness has anything to do with intelligence.

Influences on handedness

Scientists believe your hand preference is a complex characteristic that’s influenced by many factors, including:

• genetics
• environment
• random chance

Conclusion

While there are curious differences between lefties and righties, a higher intelligence level probably isn’t one of them. Many studies show mixed results when examining this complicated link, leading researchers to conclude that left-handed people are no smarter than their right-handed counterparts.