• 46_and_2@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Was surprised I started mixing up left and right after I broke my right-hand wrist while biking.

    Turns out I subconsciously associated “right” for the direction my stronger hand was on, and once my left hand started feeling like the more dominant one during recovery - my brain would automatically choose that “right” should be on my left-hand side instead, until I actively thought about which direction is which.

    This gradually decreased out as my right hand recovered and got back to being the dominant one over the next few years, but was eye-opening what shortcuts my brain uses for such basic things.

    • flux@lemmyis.fun
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      5 months ago

      Wait, are you saying you didn’t have to actively think about which is right or left before? I’ve always had to think about it, only for a second, but it’s definitely an active thought thing for me.

        • flux@lemmyis.fun
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          5 months ago

          Yeah, definitely. I didn’t know people didn’t have to think about it for a second.

          • baconsanga@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            You’re not the only one, it takes me a second or two. Sometimes I make an L shape with my hands to see which way is left. Then again, sometimes I forget my age and name haha.

            • Hadriscus@lemm.ee
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              5 months ago

              My wife has trouble with this as well. She’s also not very good with spatial reasoning, I wonder if those are linked

              • ngprc@feddit.de
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                5 months ago

                I am pretty alright with spatial reasoning but have a hard time with left and right. Especially in multitasking scenarios. When driving during complicated situations and in unknown environments for example. I always get my guide to point or have a look at the nav.