I study why zebrafish larva prefer to circle left or right, to understand how and why human brains encode right- and left-handedness

Being left- or right-handed – and the paw, eye, fin and wing equivalents – is a product of genes, development and the environment.

By: Eric Horstick, West Virginia University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 4, 2026

Words: 1,039

Last Updated: 6 days, 8 hours ago

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By Eric Horstick, West Virginia University

Being right- or left-handed is a familiar fact about yourself you likely don’t think about much on a day-to-day basis. However, your handedness affects how you interact with the world.

For many people, it determines how they brush their teeth, use tools, play sports, write, eat and much more. Simply try to enjoy a bowl of soup or sign your name with your nondominant hand to appreciate the impact …

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