ScienceSeptember 6, 2026
lateralization
LAT-er-uh-luh-ZAY-shun
Definition
The tendency for certain cognitive functions or physical preferences, such as handedness, to be localized to one side of the body or brain.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'lateralis' (belonging to the side) plus the suffix '-ize' and '-ation', the word entered English in the 19th century to describe the physiological concentration of functions on one side.
In the news
In this article, the term refers to the degree of hand preference measured by the lateralization quotient, which helps scientists determine where an individual falls on a spectrum of handedness.
About 11% of people are left-handed but how many are 100% left-handed?
Read the full article ↗Psychology Today