Lefthandedness of Nicolo Paganini
Eskenhasy, J.; Paganini, N.
Neurologia Psihiatria Neurochirurgia 13(2): 175-182
1968
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-386X PMID: 4874718 Document Number: 5459
The author, by detailed reading a vast bibliography, as able to reveal a series of neurophysiologic and morphologic characteristics of Paganini's lefthandedness, which he discusses in the light of the pertinent .modern clinical data. The virtuoso's lefthandedness was typical and perfectly lateralized, formed by his musical education which preceded his general education, with complete harmony of the symbolic functions of the two hemispheres. The major elements of his virtuosity, the pizzicato and his playing on a single string, resulted from the summation of two neurophysiologic phenomena: lefthandedness and independence of the 4th finger (who became the second opposable finger) of his left hand. To the question which of the violonist's hands was more important? The present study decidedly answers - the left.
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