Abstract
Previous research has shown that body schema has its roots in the ability to act or experience in action. In the present set of experiments, the effect of handedness on body schema was investigated. In one experiment, participants estimated the length and of their left and right arms. Right-handed participants perceived their right arms to be longer and their left arms to be shorter than their actual lengths; whereas, left-handed participants perceived both arms accurately. In the second experiment, we observed the same pattern when participants estimated the distance that they could reach with each arm. Right-handed participants overestimated their reachability with their right arm more than they overestimated their reachability with their left arm. Left-handed people overestimated their reach with the left arm the same amount as they overestimated their reach with their right arm. These results support the notion that left-handed people have a symmetrical body schema, and right-handed people have an asymmetrical body schema. These differences in body schema lead to differences in anticipated actions.