Left-hand Skill Research Articles

Musical Literacy Development: The Case of Qin Zheng Playing Techniques of Zhou Wang

The Qin Zheng, an ancient Chinese musical instrument, embodies centuries of cultural heritage and artistic expression. Amidst its strings, melodies resonate with stories of ancient China, reflecting the country’s rich history and cultural identity. The objective of this study is to analyze the Qin Zheng playing techniques of Zhou Wang in musical literacy development. The research investigates Zhou Wang’s historical development, pedagogical approach, and playing techniques through a qualitative analysis. The study focuses on the Xi’an Conservatory of Music as the primary research site, where Zhou Wang has taught and mentored students for over three decades. Key informants include Zhou Wang herself, her students, and colleagues in the field of Chinese musical education. Data analysis involves structured interviews, observations of performances and teaching sessions, and transcription of musical examples. The findings reveal Zhou Wang’s mastery of Qin Zheng techniques, including intricate right-hand and left-hand skills, and their significance in fostering musical literacy development. The study highlights the potential benefits of integrating music education, particularly traditional Chinese music like Qin Zheng, into curricula as a means to enrich students’ language skills, cognitive abilities, and emotional intelligence.

From virtual reality to first cataract surgery; trainee perspective from a developing country

Cataract surgery is one of the most performed procedure worldwide with a fascinating evolution in the use of technology [1]. EyeSi is a high-fidelity, task-oriented, virtual reality, intraocular surgery simulator widely adopted by residency programs across the developed world for skill development in cataract surgery, with proven effectiveness and decrease in complication rates [2]. We aim to provide a trainee’s reflective perspective on learning cataract surgery via virtual reality simulation and performing first real surgery from a low middle-income, developing country [3]. Simulation training as part of formal residency curriculum was documented, hence ethical approval was exempted. EyeSi course software (V3.0.6) was used for skill development as a self-learning tool, reinforced with real cataract surgery training, documented over a period of 8 months for a single participant. EyeSi provides a binocular microscopic viewing system, with hand-piece instruments and foot pedals of the same configuration as used in operating theatres. The software generates feedback reports for each task using microscopic calibrations inside the model eye. By the end of the 8-month period, simulation data showed a logged time of 45.7 hours, 74 intraocular lenses injected, 1,581 intraocular tasks completed and 772 capsulorhexis done with complications including 679mm2 of injured corneal area, 113 mm2 of injured lens area and 862 posterior capsule ruptures. In comparison, the real surgery logbook noted 30 intraocular lenses injected, 86 intraocular tasks and 31 capsulorhexis complete with a total of 1 complication and 1 complete cataract case performed. Subjective comparison reported increased confidence, lower stress levels, good preparation of left-hand skills, and passive learning of surgical theory and technicalities ( Comparison of virtual reality and real surgery experience Despite challenges of affordability and traditional surgical culture in a low middle-income country, simulation training provides safe learning alternatives to trainees which are effective and should be widely adopted. Although the learning curve is slightly longer, but skills acquired are replicable in operation theatre and significantly reduce the complication rate in the interest of patient safety. 1. Davis G. The Evolution of Cataract Surgery. Missouri Medicine. 2016;113(1):58. 2. Ahmed TM, Hussain B, Siddiqui MR. Can simulators be applied to improve cataract surgery training: a systematic review. BMJ Open Ophthalmology. 2020;5(1):e000488. 3. Aga Khan University. Simulation success story: Eye surgery.

Effectiveness of the Teaching Program Prepared to Improve Intonation Skills in Violin Education

In this study, the effect of the curriculum prepared for the elimination of posture-grip disorders in students and the development of the right-and left-hand skills on the intonation skills of students was examined. For this purpose, the curriculum prepared by targeting the 1 and 2 grade levels of the Music Teaching Undergraduate Program was applied to 6 students studying at Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University Music Education Department in the 2018–2019 academic year. In the study, the explanatory sequential mixed method was used, a single group pretest–posttest experimental design was applied in the quantitative dimension, and a structured interview technique was used in the qualitative dimension. Thirteen weeks worth of the prepared curriculum was applied to the experimental group, one hour per week. The effectiveness of the programme was examined based on three tasks: intonation accuracy in the first position, intonation accuracy according to the speed variable, and intonation accuracy in I–III position–transition playback. The studies and exercises determined for this purpose were performed by the students in the studio environment before and after the application, and the intonation errors in the files recorded in the computer environment were converted into numerical data with the Melodyn Studio 4.0 package program. To calculate the level of significance between the pretest–posttest results, 8772 notes records were analysed, and the Wilcoxon Marked Rows test was applied using the SPSS program. The descriptive analysis method was used in the analysis of qualitative data. According to the analysis, significant improvement was detected in the intonations of the students in all three tasks. It was seen that the qualitative student opinions supported these results, and the students stated that there was an improvement in their intonation and violin playing skills after the application. As a result, it can be said that regular technical exercises by eliminating posture-holding disorders and improving violin playing skills are effective in the development of intonation in the violin.

Age-dependent modulation of motor network connectivity for skill acquisition, consolidation and interlimb transfer after motor practice

ObjectiveAge-related differences in neural strategies for motor learning are not fully understood. We determined the effects of age on the relationship between motor network connectivity and motor skill acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer using dynamic imaging of coherent sources. MethodsHealthy younger (n = 24, 18–24 y) and older (n = 24, 65–87 y) adults unilaterally practiced a visuomotor task and resting-state electroencephalographic data was acquired before and after practice as well as at retention. ResultsThe results showed that right-hand skill acquisition and consolidation did not differ between age groups. However, age affected the ability to transfer the newly acquired motor skill to the non-practiced limb. Moreover, strengthened left- and right-primary motor cortex-related beta connectivity was negatively and positively associated with right-hand skill acquisition and left-hand skill consolidation in older adults, respectively. ConclusionAge-dependent modulations of bilateral resting-state motor network connectivity indicate age-specific strategies for the acquisition, consolidation, and interlimb transfer of novel motor tasks. SignificanceThe present results provide insights into the mechanisms underlying motor learning that are important for the development of interventions for patients with unilateral injuries.

Interhemispheric Parietal-Frontal Connectivity Predicts the Ability to Acquire a Nondominant Hand Skill.

Introduction: After chronic impairment of the right dominant hand, some individuals are able to compensate with increased performance with the intact left nondominant hand. This process may depend on the nondominant (right) hemisphere's ability to access dominant (left) hemisphere mechanisms. To predict or modulate patients' ability to compensate with the left hand, we must understand the neural mechanisms and connections that underpin this process. Methods: We studied 17 right-handed healthy adults who underwent resting-state functional connectivity (FC) magnetic resonance imaging scans before 10 days of training on a left-hand precision drawing task. We sought to identify right-hemisphere areas where FC from left-hemisphere seeds (primary motor cortex, intraparietal sulcus [IPS], inferior parietal lobule) would predict left-hand skill learning or magnitude. Results: Left-hand skill learning was predicted by convergent FC from left primary motor cortex and left IPS onto the same small region (0.31 cm3) in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL). Discussion: For patients who must compensate with the left hand, the right SPL may play a key role in integrating left-hemisphere mechanisms that typically control the right hand. Our study provides the first model of how interhemispheric functional connections in the human brain may support compensation after chronic injury to the right hand.

Comparison of the effects of Kinesio tape and neuromuscular electrical stimulation on hand extensors in children with cerebral palsy

Background/aims Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition resulting in weakness in the muscles, difficulty moving and excessive tension in the muscles of the arms and legs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding Kinesio taping and neuromuscular electrical stimulation to neurodevelopmental treatment on joint range of motion, muscle tone and functional ability in children with cerebral palsy. Methods A total of 30 children were included in the study. They were allocated to one of two groups: Kinesio taping (n=15) or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (n=15). The children in both groups received 20 sessions of twice-weekly neurodevelopmental treatment. Range of motion, Modified Ashworth Scale, Duruoz Hand Index, Manual Ability Classification System, Gross Motor Function Classification System, Minnesota Hand Skill Test and Jebsen Hand Function Test were assessed before and after the treatment programme. Results Statistically significant improvements (P<0.05) were found in all measures except Gross Motor Function Classification System in both groups. Significant between-group differences in left shoulder flexion, left shoulder abduction and unilateral Minnesota Hand Skill Test were found in favour of neuromuscular electrical stimulation; whereas significant improvement in left elbow flexion was found in favour of Kinesio taping. Conclusions The addition of Kinesio taping and neuromuscular electrical stimulation to neurodevelopmental treatment improved the joint range of motion and functional ability of children with cerebral palsy.

Second to fourth digit ratio and hand skill in Austrian children

Prenatal exposure to testosterone is thought to promote the development of the right-hemisphere and increase the incidence of sinistrality. A direct test of this hypothesis has previously been problematic because of the difficulty of indirectly assessing prenatal sex steroid exposure. Evidence now suggests that the ratio between the length of the second and fourth digits (2 D:4 D) is related to prenatal testosterone exposure. We tested whether digit ratio is related to the degree of hand skill such that low 2 D:4 D (indicating high levels of testosterone in utero) may be correlated with enhanced left-hand performance. In right-handed children, high 2 D:4 D correlated with improved right-hand skill and low 2 D:4 D correlated with enhanced left-hand skill. Correlations were found to be similar for girls and for boys. Since low 2 D:4 D has been previously reported to be associated with faster left-hand speed compared to right in Afro-Caribbean children with very low mean 2 D:4 D, the present finding in a Caucasian population with high mean 2 D:4 D suggests that a tendency of improved left-hand performance due to prenatal testosterone may be found across ethnic groups.

DIFFERENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF RIGHT AND LEFT BRAINS TO PAW SKILL IN RIGHT- AND LEFT-PAWED FEMALE RATS

Paw preference and paw frequency was studied in female rats. Paw preference was assessed using a modified version of food reaching task in quadrupedal position. Of 68 rats, 56 (82.4%) were right-handed, 7 (10.3%) were left-handed, and 5 (7.4%) were mixed-handed. There were significantly more right-handers than left-handers. The distribution of right minus left (L) paw reach (R + L = 50) was not U-shaped, it was J-shaped like in humans. Estrus cycle was a significant factor influencing the right-paw entry scores: most of left-handers were in estrus and proestrus, most of left­-handers were in estrus, and most of mixed-handers were in postestrus. In right- and non-right-­handers, the frequency of right-paw usage (right-hand skill) increased linearly with testing days, but the frequency of left-hand usage (left-hand skill) did not show significant changes with the successive testing days. Controlling for body weight and estrus only accentuated these results. It was concluded that distribution of hand preference in rats is J-shaped and there is a right-sided population bias in handedness in rats like in humans. The results suggested that motor learning in paw skill is mainly involved the left brain in right- and mixed-handed rats, not the right brain: only the left brain has the inbuilt capacity for motor learning in female rats. Such an asymmetric cognitive control in an animal model may have a major impact in many aspects of biology in respect to normal functioning, superior talents, and disease (see Geschwind, 1985).­

Hand preference and hand skill in families with schizophrenia

Direction and degree of handedness in humans are variable between individuals and thought to be in part inherited. Several studies have shown an increase in non-right handedness among patients with schizophrenia, and some have included unaffected relatives. The present study was designed to determine whether reduced right handedness is more frequent among individuals with schizophrenia as compared with their well relatives and whether it clusters within families having multiple ill members. A total of 259 families comprising 418 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, 54 individuals with other psychoses, 145 family members with depression and other minor diagnoses, and 288 unaffected individuals were included. Hand preference was assessed by the Annett Scale and right relative to left hand skill measured using the Tapley-Bryden test. For all assessments of hand preference and hand skill, females were significantly more lateralised towards the right than males. Those individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder had significantly less right hand preference than their unaffected relatives when measured as a quantitative index of items from the Annett Scale (p = .019), but not categorically (right, left or mixed). In contrast, there was no difference in hand skill between diagnostic groups. Hand preference was significantly correlated among male-male affected sibling pairs (p = .01) and similar results were found for hand skill among the total group of affected pairs (p = .001). Although these results only partially support a relationship between handedness and schizophrenia, they nevertheless draw attention to sex differences in hand preference and the familial aspects of hand preference in this disorder. More direct approaches to the genetics of cerebral dominance and psychosis are required.

Neuropsychological Abilities of Children With Cardiac Disease Treated With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

We examined the effect of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on right- and left-hemisphere neuropsychological abilities in children with cardiac disease. Nine children treated with ECMO, ages 4 to 6 years, with no history of neurologic or genetic disorder, were compared to 13 controls matched for cardiac disease and age of surgery and 31 normal controls. Children treated with ECMO demonstrated significant impairment in general cognitive ability compared to normal controls. No group differences were found in impulsivity or sustained attention. On lateralized measures, children treated with ECMO demonstrated significant impairment in left-hand motor skill, visual memory, and spatial construction compared to both cardiac controls and normal controls. There were no group differences in general verbal ability, verbal memory, right-hand motor skills, or tactile perception. Results indicated mild general cognitive impairment and impairment of functions associated with right-hemisphere abilities in children treated with ECMO.

Hand Skill Asymmetry in Professional Musicians

Hand skill asymmetry on two handedness tasks was examined in consistent right-handed musicians and nonmusicians as well as mixed-handed and consistent left-handed nonmusicians. Musicians, although demonstrating right-hand superiority, revealed a lesser degree of hand skill asymmetry than consistent right-handed nonmusicians. Increased left-hand skill in musicians accounted for their reduced asymmetry. Musicians predominantly playing keyboard instruments demonstrated superior tapping performance than musicians playing predominantly string instruments, although they did not differ with respect to hand skill asymmetry. Since the diminished tapping asymmetry in musicians was related to early commencement but not duration of musical training, results are interpreted as an adaptation process due to performance requirements interacting with cerebral maturation during childhood.

The mixture distribution of left minus right hand skill in men and women

The distribution of left minus right (L—R) hand skill (peg moving) was studied in 436 men and 247 women. In total sample, the distribution was continuous and a sum of two Gaussian curves. One of them was constituted by subjects with better right hand (79.0%) and better left hand (21.0%). The other curve (2.5% of total) was exclusively due to the subjects with better left hand. In men and women, the total curve was a sum of three overlapping Gaussian curves. Two of them were mostly due to the subjects with better right hand. There was a third curve representing almost entirely the subjects with better left hand. Women were more strongly right-handed than men. There was no significant sex difference at the sinistral side. The overall results were compatible with the right shift theory, but there was not a single Gaussian curve representing a chance distribution with a mean of zero. These results suggested that the distribution of manual asymmetry in skill is continuous, which may be described by probabilities due to subjects with better right and left hands; there is no place for chance in human handedness.

Predicting reading ability from handedness measures.

Word reading, hand skill on a peg-moving task and hand preference were measured in 203 children aged from 11-13 years. Differences in skill between the hands were largely attributable to variations in left-hand skill, consistent with the view that manual and cerebral asymmetry are due to the loss (pruning) of cells in the right hemisphere during development-a mechanism that may be dependent on the "right shift' (rs+) gene postulated by Annett (1985). There was only weak evidence for the curvilinear relation between differential hand skill and reading predicted by Annett's (1985) theory of balanced polymorphism, which postulates a heterozygotic advantage. Reading was better predicted by absolute measures of hand skill than by the difference between the hands, especially among boys. For the boys, word reading was predicted significantly from right-hand skill, while for girls left-hand skill predicted slightly more strongly than right-hand skill. This may be related to differential growth gradients in the two hemispheres, and different environmental influences for boys and girls during a period of right hemispheric growth.

We are far from understanding sex-related differences in spatial-mathematical abilities despite the theory of sexual selection

AbstractI have provided evidence that Geary's model does not explain male dominance in spatial abilities by sexual selection. The current literature concerning the relations of nonverbal IQ to testosterone, hand preference, and right- and left-hand skill, as well as the organizing effects of testosterone on cerebral lateralization during the perinatal period, does not support Geary's arguments.

Dependence of intermanual difference in hand skill on right or left cerebral motor control in right-handed male and female subjects.

The relations of the mean differences in right and left hand skills (L-R) to the mean right and left hand skills were studied in right-handed male and female subjects with and without familial sinistrality (FS+, FS-). Hand skill was measured by the peg moving task. In FS+ males, there was a significant negative linear correlation between L-R and right hand peg moving times (PMTs). In FS+ females, there was a significant positive linear correlation between L-R and left hand PMTs. There were no significant correlations between L-R and left hand PMTs in FS+ males, and right hand PMTs in FS+ females. FS- subjects could be described as follows. In males and females with right eye and right foot preference, L-R PMTs were found to be positively linearly correlated with left hand PMTs (no correlation between L-R and right hand PMTs). In subjects with left eye and right foot preference, the correlations were found to be similar to those for FS+ subjects. In subjects with mixed eye and right foot preference, there was a negative linear correlation between L-R and right hand PMTs in females; a positive linear correlation between L-R and left hand PMTs in males. There were no significant correlations between L-R and right hand PMTs in males, and left hand PMTs in females. These results indicated that left brain in FS+ males, and right brain in FS+ females would produce the L-R difference between hands in PMTs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Right and left hand skill in relation to cerebral lateralization in right-handed male and female subjects: the prominent role of the right brain in right-handedness.

The associations between right and left hand skills to cerebral motor lateralization were studied in right-handed subjects with (FS+) and without (FS-) familial sinistrality. Hand preference was assessed by Oldfield questionnaire and hand skill by the peg moving task. The mean peg moving times (PMTs) and their standard deviations (SDs) were calculated for each hand. There was a significant positive linear correlation between the mean right and left hand PMTs. In males, the mean difference between the left and right PMTs (L-R) showed a significant negative linear correlation with the mean right hand PMTs. There was no significant correlation between these parameters in females. The mean L-R PMTs were found to be positively linearly correlated with the mean left hand PMT in FS- males, FS- and FS+ females (no correlation in FS+ males). The results indicated the contribution of the mean left hand PMTs to L-R hand skill is much higher than that of the mean right hand PMTs. In males, there was no significant correlation between SDs of the mean right and left hand PMTs. In females, SD of the mean right hand PMT was found to be positively linearly related to SD of the left hand PMT. In males, L-R SDs were found to be negatively linearly related to SDs of the mean right hand PMTs and positively linearly related to the SDs of the mean left hand PMTs. In females, only the mean left hand PMT positively linearly correlated with L-R SDs. Here again, the left hand prominently influenced the L-R SDs. In males, SD for the mean right hand PMT showed no relation to right hand PMT. There was, however, a negative linear correlation between SD of the mean right hand PMT and the left hand PMT (no correlations in female). It was concluded that the left hand (right brain) would be of higher significance than the right hand (left brain) in determining the degree of the right-bias in hand skill and its stability in right-handers.

The relation of hand preference to hand performance in left-handers: importance of the left brain.

The associations among hand preference, hand skill (peg moving time, PMT) and hand performance (dot filling/20 s) were analyzed in left-handed subjects. In the total sample, the degree of left-hand preference linearly decreased from -100 to zero (Geschwind scores, GSs) as the number of dots placed by the right hand increased (direct correlation); the left hand did not show any significant relation to GSs. The right-hand PMT linearly decreased as the GSs decreased (negative linear correlation); the left hand skill did not exhibit any significant correlation with GSs. There was a negative linear correlation between right-hand PMT and dot-filling with right hand; the left-hand PMT was not related to dot-filling with left hand. In males, the right-hand PMT showed a negative linear correlation with GSs; no significant correlation between PMT and GSs was found for the left hand. There was a negative linear correlation between right minus left (R - L) PMT and GSs. Dot-filling with right hand was found to be positively linearly correlated with GSs (no correlation for the left hand). The L - R dot-filling showed a negative linear correlation with GSs. PMT for the right hand exhibited a significant negative linear relation to dot-filling only with right hand. Sex and familial sinistrality caused minor changes in these relationships. It was concluded that the left brain would constitute the main factor determining the degree of left-handedness.

Phonological Processing and Right minus Left Hand Skill

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that children at the left of the distribution of right minus left (R-L) hand skill are at risk for poor phonological processing. In the first experiment, individual assessments of spoken rhyme awareness were made in 5- to 8-year-olds. In the second experiment, a group test of word order memory for spoken confusable and nonconfusable items was given to 9- to 11-year-olds. Evidence of poorer phonological processing in those at the left of the R-L distribution was found in both experiments. Rhyme judgements and word order memory were both associated with reading ability, but reading did not interact with effects for hand skill. A group test of homophone comprehension was given to the same children tested for word order memory. Homophone errors did not differ between hand skill groups, showing a dissociation between the two tasks for R-L hand difference. The findings suggest that some risks for phonological processing could be due to normal genetic variation associated with the hypothesized rs + gene (Annett, 1972, 1978).

Reading upside down and mirror text in groups differing for right minus left hand skill

Abstract Undergraduates were assessed for their ability to read normal, inverted and mirror text, and for their hand preference and peg moving time by each hand. The first prediction was that the advantage of the right hand for skill depends on loss of left hand skill, rather than gain in right hand skill. There was strong support for this idea. The second prediction was that there are risks for abilities at both extremes of the continuum of differences in hand skill, but especially at the right. The expected pattern was clearly present for inverted reading. The trends for normal and mirror reading were similar but not significant. The results replicate those for hand skill and reading quotient in normal schoolchildren (Annett & Manning, 1990b). Both studies support the suggestion that reading is one of the skills influenced by a genetic balanced polymorphism with heterozygote advantage, for laterality and ability.

The relationship between serum testosterone and visuomotor learning in hand skill in right-handed young women

The relationship between serum testosterone level and motor learning in hand skill was studied in right-handed young women. Hand skill was assessed by a peg moving task. Subjects were required to shift 25 pegs from one of two parallel rows to the corresponding holes as fast as possible, first with right and then with left hand. One trial consisted of the time elapsed to move 25 pegs with one hand. Ten trials were performed by each hand. Peg moving times for the right and left hands linearly decreased at each successive trial (visuomotor learning). Subjects were divided into two subgroups as those having serum testosterone concentrations below and above the mean. The right hand skill and its motor learning was found to be better in subjects with low testosterone than those with high testosterone. The left hand skill was better in subjects with low testosterone than those with high testosterone; there was no significant difference in the left-hand learning in subjects with low and high testosterone (parallel regression lines). Motor learning linearly decreased with testosterone for the right hand, not for the left hand. These results seem to be in accord with the testosterone theory of cerebral lateralization (Geschwind & Behan, 1982).