Constant error in aiming movements without visual feedback is higher in the preferred hand

Abstract

There is convincing evidence for a left hand advantage for the spatial planning of aiming movements in right-handers. However, little is known about equivalent proficiency in left-handers. Therefore, 48 participants (24 right-handers and 24 left-handers) performed aiming movements of the hand without visual feedback. While the variable aiming error tended to be lower for the preferred hand, the constant aiming error was consistently lower for the non-preferred hand. Data are consistent with the idea of a spatial accuracy advantage for the controller of the non-preferred hand. Data from an ambidextrous participant suggest that this functional difference might be innate rather than acquired through practice.