Ambidexterity
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Ambidexterity is the ability of being equally adept with each hand (or, to a limited degree, feet). See laterality. The word "ambidextrous" is derived from the Latin *ambi meaning "same" and the root *dext meaning "right"; thus, "ambidextrous" is literally "right on both sides".
While ambidexterity can be learned, most people still gravitate towards performing certain types of tasks with a specific hand. The degree of versatility with each hand is generally the qualitative factor in determining a person's ambidexterity.
In modern times, it is more likely to find people considered ambidextrous who were originally left handed, and learned to be ambidextrous either deliberately or during childhood by indoctrination through institutions such as schools where right-handed habits are often emphasized.
True ambidexterity is rare.
Famous ambidextrous people:
- Robert Baden-Powell
- James Garfield
- Shigeru Miyamoto
- Harry Truman
- Michael Angelo Batio
- Leonardo da Vinci
Ambidexterity (a.k.a. mixed handedness) is more common amongst people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders than in the general population and mixed handedness may act as marker of genetic vulnerability to psychotic disorder.
http://www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk/schizophrenia/research/ambidexterity