Why do we confuse right and left

Long before the revolution in the Russian Empire, officers who trained soldiers on the parade ground faced a problem: recruits from the peasants, in principle, did not distinguish between left and right. Therefore, the command “Right! Left!» was remade for them in a clear and simple: “Hay! Straw!» «Hay» — left leg, «straw» — right. So the soldiers quickly learned to march.

The times of illiterate serfs are long gone, and right and left are still confused by many people with different levels of intelligence and education. Those who went to yoga or dance classes faced the following situation: the teacher shows the movement, everyone repeats after him, and there will definitely be a couple of people who stretch out the other leg or arm.

The confusion with left and right is actually quite common. Especially if we are in a hurry. For example, when we drive a car along the autobahn with complex interchanges and try not to miss the desired turn, listening to the instructions of the navigator or the passenger. So why do we always confuse sides, but have no problems with the concepts of up-down or forward-backward?

Biopsychologist Sebastian Ocklenburg studies the influence of the brain and neurotransmitters on human behavior, thought processes and emotions. He gives two reasons why we confuse right and left.

• «Right» and «left» change depending on the angle of view. When the person opposite points us in the direction, we can get confused and make mistakes.
• «Left» and «right» are conventional concepts, they are not determined by physical laws. To determine where the top and bottom are, you can simply toss an apple — it will always fall down. Left-right is more difficult to deal with.

How many people confuse left and right?

“A huge number of people face similar problems in their daily lives,” Ocklenburg writes. The first major study on this topic was published in the 1970s. It was attended by doctors and their spouses. About 9% of men and 17% of women stated that they often confuse left and right. More recent studies have shown that about a third of people at least occasionally confuse left and right.

A harmless feature or a dangerous trend?

There are activities in which confusion is too costly. For example, in the work of a surgeon. In January 2000, two doctors at a hospital in South Wales accidentally removed a healthy left kidney instead of a diseased right one, resulting in the patient’s death, writes Oaklenburg.

Medical professionals are often limited in time, so mistakes are more likely. This is confirmed by the data of a survey of medical students — they often confuse right and left. Doctors use special markings before surgery. With its help, the surgeon can determine which limb or organ should be operated on or removed.

The importance of such labeling was confirmed in 2014 through a study of the work of eye surgeons from Israel. As part of the project, surgeons were called the name of the patient, showed his face from a distance of 2 meters and asked to remember which eye was operated on. Doctors were able to give the correct answer, knowing the name of the patient, only in 73% of cases. And looking at his face — in 83% of cases. The more time passed between the preoperative examination and the operation, the more errors there were.

What happens in the brain when we confuse left and right?

So why do we make such mistakes?

Ocklenburg writes: «Studies of patients have shown that the angular gyrus in the parietal lobe of the brain is very important for distinguishing between left and right.»

Damage to this area can lead to what is known as Gerstmann’s syndrome. This is a rare neurological condition in which patients present with:

• finger agnosia — a disorder in which the patient cannot point the same finger on his hand that the doctor shows on his hand;
• agraphia — lack of ability to write, connect letters and syllables;
• acalculia — violation of the account and inability to count operations;
• confusion over the definition of right and left.

Neuroscientists have used various methods to determine if the angular gyrus affects left-right errors in healthy people, not just patients with Gerstmann’s syndrome. Using various techniques, including magnetic stimulation and MRI, scientists have found that the angular gyrus does become active when a person tries to choose right or left, and the failure of the angular gyrus to function correctly leads to frequent errors.

So what does the angular gyrus do? Research has shown that it is involved in language-related processes (such as semantic processing and reading words), as well as memory and spatial awareness. Ocklenburg believes that it integrates these processes so that we can manage our actions.

Research explains why the healthy functioning of this part of the brain is so relevant to determining right and left. For such a distinction requires both verbal processes—the words «left» and «right» must be applied to objects in the environment—and memory, since we must remember what is on the right and what is on the left. And, of course, spatial processing is needed, since we need to figure out if the objects are on the left or on the right. If there is no interaction, confusion may arise.

How to get rid of confusion?

We often confuse right and left if we are under stress or in a hurry. Therefore, the biopsychologist believes, at such moments it makes sense to stop and tell yourself whether we need the right or left side. You can use cheat sheets. For example, remember in which hand we hold the pen. In any case, all these tricks take time. Is it possible to develop the right skill so that you can react faster?

“We are all different, with different abilities, different experiences”

Clinical psychologist Lidia Fedorova

Some people easily and quickly distinguish between left and right, others have a harder time. This happens because we are all different, with different abilities, different experiences, with different starting opportunities. In addition, many neurophysiological mechanisms are involved in such a complex process.

If the confusion is not associated with a serious brain lesion, then most likely this is an individual feature. It usually takes some time to consciously work on the skill, for example, by playing simple games, to overcome the confusion.

1. Label the «non-primary» hand. Right-handers — left, and left-handers — right. To do this, for example, you can remember that your watch is always on your left / right hand, or you can constantly wear a light bracelet or ring.

2. «Work out» the left and right sides. Mentally walk through the body, marking and naming its parts on one side, then on the other. We have a left and a right ear, a left and a right eye, and so on. You can play with yourself or with a partner in task games: “Scratch your left ear with your right hand, and your right elbow with your left hand, standing on your right heel.”

3. Play games with space patterns. Ask a friend or relative to give you directional commands, such as «Take three steps to the left, one step forward, four steps to the right.» To keep you motivated and involved in the process, a surprise reward may await you at the end of the quest.

You can complicate the game, give instructions: “Move from left to right” or vice versa. Adults can build schemes from memory. In such a game, you yourself say exactly how you will get to the agreed point — for example, you will go to a shopping center. Here it is important to describe the movement in terms of «right» and «left». Your friend or you yourself can control the process by referring to the map. You can also play board games or special games for the development of spatial thinking.

4. Learn to distinguish between the left and right sides of others. To do this, play «Mirror» and «Mirror in reverse.» In the first case, you and your partner stand opposite each other. He moves, and you, as in a mirror, repeat his movements — if he raises his right hand, then you, respectively, left. And in the game «Reverse Mirror» you need to make movements with the opposite part of the body: if the partner raises his left hand, then you do not «reflect» him, but change sides and also raise the left.

5. Draw with both hands. This is a good way to figure out what is on which side.

Daily training will teach you to distinguish between left and right, and over time, the skill will automate. Well, if it still doesn’t work out, then you can consult and work out with a neuropsychologist.