Finger tapping test L-R inequality

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    Inequality Test
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the differences in finger dexterity between the dominant and non-dominant hands, specifically in the context of a finger tapping test. Participants explore the potential reasons for these discrepancies, including muscle memory and evolutionary perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes a 20% speed difference in finger tapping between their left (dominant) and right (non-dominant) hands and questions whether this is a fixed property of adult nerves.
  • Another participant inquires about the individual's handedness, confirming they are left-handed.
  • A participant wonders about the typical discrepancy in dexterity between the dominant and secondary hand.
  • One participant suggests that muscle memory contributes to dexterity differences, referencing studies on athletes and the impact of joint injuries on learned routines.
  • Another participant questions the evolutionary rationale behind hand dominance, suggesting it might be more efficient for both hands to have equal capabilities.
  • A later reply challenges the notion of evolution as a designer, explaining that traits arise by chance and are subject to natural selection rather than intentional design.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the evolutionary implications of hand dominance and the mechanisms behind dexterity differences, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the influence of muscle memory and evolutionary biology, but the conversation does not resolve the underlying assumptions or definitions regarding these concepts.

tonyjeffs
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Alternately tapping my first and second finger...
I can do this 20% faster with my left hand than my right hand.
Is it possible to speed this up, or is it a fixed property of my adult nerves?
 
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Are you left-handed?
 
Yes.

I wonder what the typical discrepency in dexterity is between the fingers of the dominant and the secondary hand.
 
Part of the reason for this discrepency is muscle memory.

This was first noticed in athletes who suffered injuries to joints. If they were not encouraged to begin using the joint again as soon as possible they were more prone to suffer further injuries to that joint. Studies showed that our muscles learn specific little routines to cope with the high speed demands we make of them. The human brain alone cannot do all the parrallel processessing necessary to orchestrate every little motion when when time is of the essense. When injured, our muscles can quickly forget these routines and when our brains try to draw on them again in their absense disaster can strike.

You might find the same is true for other joints on your body, that differing sides have differing abilities in this reguard. This can be influenced by the amount of billateral symmetry you possess, among other factors.
 
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Why has evolution bothered to design one sided dominance?Surely it would have been more efficient to give equal powers to both sides.There must be a fundamental reason for this set up.
 
veloman said:
Why has evolution bothered to design one sided dominance?Surely it would have been more efficient to give equal powers to both sides.There must be a fundamental reason for this set up.

Because evolution doesn't "design" anything. There's no "giving" of anything. New traits appear by chance, beneficial ones remain, detrimental ones decrease in the population, and neutral ones may come and go.
 

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