Left-handedness and time pressure in elite interactive ball games

Biol Lett. 2017 Nov;13(11):20170446. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0446.

Abstract

According to the fighting hypothesis, frequency-dependent selection gives relatively rarer left-handers a competitive edge in duel-like contests and is suggested as one mechanism that ensured the stable maintenance of handedness polymorphism in humans. Overrepresentation of left-handers exclusively in interactive sports seems to support the hypothesis. Here, by referring to data on interactive ball sports, I propose that a left-hander's advantage is linked to the sports' underlying time pressure. The prevalence of left-handers listed in elite rankings increased from low (8.7%) to high (30.39%) time pressure sports and a distinct left-hander overrepresentation was only found in the latter (i.e. baseball, cricket and table tennis). This indicates that relative rarity and the interactive nature of a contest are not sufficient per se to evoke a left-hander advantage. Refining the fighting hypothesis is suggested to facilitate prediction and experimental verification of when and why negative frequency-dependent selection may benefit left-handedness.

Keywords: competition; fighting hypothesis; frequency dependence; handedness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Athletic Performance*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Selection, Genetic
  • Time Factors

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3923299