Left-Right confusion
For about 85% of people, left and right is as obvious as up and down. As for the rest of us, we have to consult our hands, either by looking at them, or imagining them.
If you’re curious about how good you are at distinguishing left from right compared to other people, take this online test.
What explains this difference?
Most people have strongly lateralized brains, with a dominant left hemisphere that results in a strongly dominant right hand. Somehow, this gives people a stronger sense of left and right in their own bodies. People with L-R confusion have brains that are more symmetrical than normal. Our two body and brain halves are more similar, so they are easier to confuse.
This theory is further supported by the fact that animals with highly symmetrical brains (which includes pretty much all nonhuman animals, including pigeons, rats and octopuses) are very poor at telling right from left.
What parts of the brain are involved in left-right discrimination?
The angular gyrus. (Orange in the above illustration.)
What else are we bad at?
You’ll be unsurprised to hear that people with L-R confusion also tend to have dyslexia and topographical agnosia — neurology speak for getting lost all the time.
Do we get any advantages?
Yes! People with L-R confusion are better at symmetry detection than our highly lateralized peers. We are faster to distinguish whether two images are a mirror image of one another (or an asymmetrical repetition) by about a tenth of a second. I have no idea how this might come in handy in everyday life, but I am doing my best to lord it over my lateralized husband.
Is there a K-Pop song about left-right confusion?
Why yes there is! See below for the lyrics translated into English.
“Left-Right Confusion” (左右盲 ) by Yorushika (ヨルシカ)
English translation courtesy Genius.com
[Verse 1]
Your right hand is poking my cheek
On my left hand, a lukewarm mug
Your right eyebrow droops a little
It rained a lot this morning
[Chorus]
Just one is fine
Just one of the unscattered peonies is fine
Striking your chest
With enough happiness that makes you lose your heart
Just one is fine
Fumbling around in the middle of the night
Without knowing left from right
The silence while going alone
If only that one thing could be taught
[Verse 2]
Your left eyebrow droops a little
I'm not good at remembering things
It seems I'm unable to undеrstand
The novel I once bought is thеre in your right hand
Oh wait, or is that your left hand?
[Chorus]
Just one is fine
Just one sunlight during the evening
A sentiment that strikes your chest and peeks into your heart
Just one is fine
I hope you're able to feel the hailstorm dancing around in the summer
That will makes you won't close your eyes