Why do some people confuse their left and right?

Knowing the difference between right and left is crucial for various daily activities like driving and navigation. While most of us take this skill for granted, a significant portion of the population faces challenges with it. A study published in 2020 in the Journal of Experimental Psychology estimated that one in six adults struggles to distinguish their right from their left.

Of course, if you turn the wrong way when out in the street, it can be a minor inconvenience. You might get lost, or turn up late for an appointment for example. But in some cases, confusing left and right can be a matter of life and death. It might sound unlikely, but all too many times, surgery has been carried out on the wrong side of a patient’s body due to human error, with tragic consequences. And back in 2010 it emerged that the sinking of the Titanic may have actually been caused by a left-right steering error.

So, how does this actually work? Now, why is this such a challenge? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 23/10/2023

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