Does the Right Brain Really Control the Left Hand?

I'm sure you've heard the saying that if left brain controls the right hand and the right brain controls the left hand, then only lefties are in their right mind. It's a humorous saying, and one that I personally rather like, being left-handed and all. But is it true?

Seems there is no real answer to that question. First, we need to understand a little about the brain. It's divided pretty nicely into two parts, not necessarily equal or even. But, each side controls different parts of our activities. Often these parts are called learning centers.

It was believed at one point that people who were right-handed had language learning centers on the left lobe of their brain. Well, as it turns out, this is true for some of the population, but not all of the population. It seems that "rule" doesn't apply to about a third of the population. That's a pretty big number. And it makes the theory not so good.

The biggest problem with trying to understand which side of the brain controls which side of the body is the research methods. How can someone study the brain of a healthy human with causing damage? And who wants to be brain-damaged when they don't have to be? So research is limited to head injury patients when possible.

If you want to read more about how this right-brain/left-handed business got started, you can right here. I just say that I'm honored and happy to be left-handed and I'll let either side of my brain do it's business just like it should.