Ambidexterity in relation to ADHD

The brain is divided down the middle into two hemispheres. The opposite hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body. For example, people who are right handed are more dominant in their left hemisphere of the brain. Kids who are ambidexterous are symetrical on both sides of the brain. If they are too symmetrical then they may have cognitive problems such as ADHD.

A group of European scientists recently studied 8000 children and the results showed that children with ambidexterity are at higher risks for linguistic, scholastic and attention difficulties. At age eight they have twice as many difficulties as their peers and at age sixteen they are more likely to have symptoms of ADHD. Their symptoms of ADHD would be more severe than that of children with dominant hands. Ambidexterity is not causing the problems, but shows that shared control between hemispheres causes problems.

This study of ambidexterity allows us to understand the brain better. It isn't the fact that ambidexterity causes ADHD, but how how the brain works in relation to ambidexterity. The brain working symetrically has its problems and causes ADHD.

Source: Anthes, Emily. "Ambidexterity and ADHD". Scientific American Mind July/August 2010: 7-7.