handedness

n. the consistent use of one hand rather than the other in performing certain tasks. The preference usually is related to a dominance effect of the motor cortex on the opposite side of the body. Also called hand dominance; manual dominance. See cerebral dominance; laterality; left-handedness; right-handedness.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

care of young

care of young

a manifestation of parental behavior or alloparenting in animals, usually stimulated by hormonal and other physiological changes when in the presence of offspring. These include the secretion of prolactin, which induces broodiness and parental feeding of young in birds and milk production in mammals.