Handedness, musical abilities, and dichaptic and dichotic performance in adolescents: A longitudinal study

At five stages of an ongoing longitudinal study with adolescents, we compared three groups of male and female adolescents having different levels of musical abilities. Once a year, participants were tested for musical talent, dichaptic and dichotic performance, and spatial and verbal ability. Of 60 boys, 12 were left‐handed; of 60 girls, 7 were left‐handed. Left‐handedness was related to musical talent and to the ability to compose/improvise in boys but not in girls. No differences were found between left‐handers and right‐handers on dichaptic and dichotic tasks. However, musical talent influenced the outcome. Compared with right‐handedness, left‐handedness in both sexes was associated with a significantly higher incidence of asthma, allergies, and/or migraine.