The associations between left-hand digit ratio (2D:4D) and puberty characteristics among Chinese girls

2019 ◽  
Vol 130 ◽  
pp. 22-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Li ◽  
Yanqiu Meng ◽  
Rongying Yao ◽  
Hui Han ◽  
Lu Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Chinese Girls

scholarly journals 2D:4D and Self-Employment: A Preregistered Replication Study in a Large General Population Sample

2021 ◽  
pp. 104225872098547
Author(s):  
Frank M. Fossen ◽  
Levent Neyse ◽  
Magnus Johannesson ◽  
Anna Dreber
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
In Utero ◽  
Replication Study ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
General Population Sample ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Fourth Finger ◽  
German Socioeconomic Panel

The 2D: 4D digit ratio, the ratio of the length of the second finger to the length of the fourth finger, is often considered a proxy for testosterone exposure in utero. A recent study reported, among other things, an association between the left-hand 2D:4D and self-employment in a sample of 974 adults. In this preregistered study, we replicate the 2D:4D results on a sample of more than 2100 adults from the German Socioeconomic Panel-Innovation Sample (SOEP-IS). We find no statistically significant associations between 2D:4D and self-employment.

scholarly journals Testosterone measured from amniotic fluid and maternal plasma shows no significant association with directional asymmetry in newborn digit ratio (2D:4D)

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Richards ◽  
M. Gomes ◽  
T. Ventura
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Maternal Plasma ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Directional Asymmetry ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Maternal Circulation ◽  
Left Hand

AbstractFoetal sex hormones can have powerful and far-reaching effects on later phenotype. However, obtaining accurate measurements is difficult for ethical reasons, and researchers often employ proxy variables to examine their effects. The relative length of the second and fourth fingers (digit ratio or 2D:4D) is frequently used for this purpose, as it is hypothesized to index variance in prenatal androgen and oestrogen exposure. Most studies employing this method examine digit ratio for the right hand (R2D:4D) and/or left hand (L2D:4D), though the mean value (M2D:4D) (i.e., the average of R2D:4D and L2D:4D) and directional asymmetry (D[R–L]) (i.e., R2D:4D minus L2D:4D) are also commonly used. As no published studies have examined M2D:4D or D[R-L] in relation to testosterone measured from amniotic fluid, we conducted a secondary analysis of data published by Ventura et al. The sample comprises 106 mothers from Portugal who underwent amniocentesis during the second trimester and their neonates. Newborn M2D:4D was negatively correlated with amniotic testosterone in females (P<0.05) but not in males; no significant association was observed between amniotic testosterone and D[R–L] in either sex. In addition, we examined testosterone measured from maternal circulation during the second trimester, and found that it was not a significant predictor of M2D:4D or D[R–L] in male or female infants. Further research should aim to measure the ratio of testosterone to oestradiol present in amniotic fluid and maternal plasma, to examine whether either is a predictor of digit ratio variables at different stages of postnatal development.

EVIDENCE FOR ASSORTATIVE MATING ON DIGIT RATIO (2D:4D), A BIOMARKER FOR PRENATAL ANDROGEN EXPOSURE

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN VORACEK ◽  
STEFAN G. DRESSLER ◽  
JOHN T. MANNING
Keyword(s):  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Androgen Exposure ◽  
The Right ◽  
Prenatal Androgen ◽  
Spousal Similarity

SummaryThe second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) presents an anatomical sex difference in humans. On average, men tend to have lower 2D:4D compared with women. There is fairly strong evidence for a role of the 2D:4D ratio as a biomarker for the organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal testosterone on the brain and behaviour. Recently, an accumulating research programme has shown 2D:4D to be related to a multitude of sex-dependent, hormonally influenced biosocial traits and phenotypes which reach into the domains of ability, behaviour, fertility, health, personality and sexuality. This study investigated the degree of assortative mating (spousal similarity) in a sample of 239 native Austrian couples of parental or grandparental age, all of them having reproduced. Results included: (i) significant spousal correlations of +0·19 and +0·18 for right-hand and left-hand 2D:4D, respectively, and +0·24 for average 2D:4D; (ii) no assortative mating effect on the right-minus-left difference in 2D:4D; (iii) indications consistent with a possible generational decrease of spousal similarity in 2D:4D; (iv) a prevalence of couples with a lower right-hand 2D:4D observed in the husband compared with his wife; and (v) relations of spousal 2D:4D patterns to spousal age differences, such that matings of men with more male-typical trait expressions (namely, a generally low right-hand 2D:4D or showing a lower right-minus-left 2D:4D difference than their wives) implicated larger male-minus-female age differences, i.e. younger wives. It is argued that assortative mating on 2D:4D operates indirectly and may be mediated through the assortment on other, more perceptible, physical traits and psychological phenotypes that entertain associations with 2D:4D and are relevant for courtship and mate choice.

scholarly journals The 2D : 4D Digit Ratio as a Biomarker for Autism Spectrum Disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mackus ◽  
D. de Kruijff ◽  
L. S. Otten ◽  
A. D. Kraneveld ◽  
J. Garssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ring Finger ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Subscale Score ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Attention Switching ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attention To Detail

It has been suggested that the second (2D, index finger) to fourth (4D, ring finger) digit ratio, 2D : 4D, may be a biomarker for the risk of developing autism. The aim of the current study was to determine the usefulness of the 2D : 4D digit ratio as biomarker for autistic traits. N=401 healthy young volunteers participated in the study. For both hands, digit lengths were measured using digital Vernier calipers. In addition to demographics, the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire was completed, comprised of five subscales, assessing “social insights and behavior,” “attention switching,” “communication,” “imagination,” and “attention to detail.” Overall, no significant correlations were observed between the AQ total score, its subscales, and the 2D : 4D digit ratio. For women, the left hand 2D : 4D digit ratio correlated significantly with the subscale score “communication” (r=-0.142; p=0.036). For men, a significant positive correlation was found between the left 2D : 4D digit ratio and the total AQ score (r=0.157; p=0.042) and AQ subscale “attention switching” (r=0.182; p=0.017). In conclusion, gender specific associations between the 2D : 4D digit ratio and specific autism traits were observed, which were stronger in men than in women. Future studies should be conducted in patients that are formally diagnosed with autism.

scholarly journals Digit ratio (2D : 4D) and prosocial behaviour in economic games: no direct correlation with generosity, bargaining or trust-related behaviours

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 20190185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Brañas-Garza ◽  
Antonio M. Espín ◽  
Teresa García-Muñoz ◽  
Jaromír Kovářík
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Exposure ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Organizational Effects ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Hormone Exposure ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Social Behaviours

Prenatal exposure to sex hormones exerts organizational effects on the brain which have observable behavioural correlates in adult life. There are reasons to expect that social behaviours—fundamental for the evolutionary success of humans—might be related to biological factors such as prenatal sex hormone exposure. Nevertheless, the existing literature is inconclusive as to whether and how prenatal exposure to testosterone and oestrogen, proxied by the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D : 4D), may predict non-selfish behaviour. Here, we investigate this question using economic experiments with real monetary stakes and analyse five different dimensions of social behaviour in a comparatively large sample of Caucasian participants ( n = 560). For both males and females, our results show no robust association between right- or left-hand 2D : 4D and generosity, bargaining or trust-related behaviours. Moreover, no differences in behaviour were found according to sex. We conclude that there is no direct correlation between 2D : 4D and these social behaviours.

scholarly journals The Left Hand Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Is Not Related to Any Physical Fitness Component in Adolescent Girls

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e59766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maarten W. Peeters ◽  
Katrijn Van Aken ◽  
Albrecht L. Claessens
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Fitness Component ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Fourth Digit

The Relation of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Absolute Finger Length to Pavlovian Temperament Dimensions

2008 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 783-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Voracek
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Finger Length ◽  
Androgen Action ◽  
Androgen Exposure ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Prenatal Androgen Exposure ◽  
Strength Of Excitation ◽  
Prenatal Androgen

The associations of digit ratio (2D:4D), a likely marker for prenatal androgen exposure, and absolute finger length, a likely marker for postnatal androgen exposure, with self-reports on three Pavlovian temperament dimensions (strength of excitation, strength of inhibition, and mobility of nervous processes) were investigated in a sample of 84 men and 114 women. In men, left-hand 2D:4D was weakly, but significantly, negatively associated with strength of inhibition, and also weakly negatively, but not significantly, associated with the two other temperament dimensions. These effects were absent for men's right-hand 2D:4D. Finger lengths of both hands in men were weakly, but significantly, positively associated with mobility of nervous processes scores. All associations for women were negligible. Both prenatal and postnatal androgen action may contribute to small amounts of individual differences in Pavlovian temperament dimensions in men but apparently not in women.

scholarly journals The Second to Fourth Digit Ratio in Elite and Non-Elite Greco-Roman Wrestlers

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151
Author(s):  
Mohammad Keshavarz ◽  
Mahdi Bayati ◽  
Babak Farzad ◽  
Amirbahador Dakhili ◽  
Hamid Agha-Alinejad
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical Strength ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Greco Roman ◽  
Fourth Digit ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
World Class

Abstract A low second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) has been reported to correlate with high performance and athletic potential of an individual in sport. It has been suggested that 2D:4D is a relatively weak predictor of strength and a stronger predictor of efficiency in aerobic exercise. Comparing extreme groups on a continuum of sports performance requiring high power (physical strength) output would be helpful to resolve this issue. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare the 2D:4D ratio of world-class elite Greco-Roman wrestlers (n = 10) taking part in Olympic fitness camps in 2013 with the 2D:4D ratio of non-elite collegiate wrestlers (n = 20), and age-matched sedentary males (n = 40). The 2D:4D ratios of elite wrestlers were lower compared to non-elite athletes (p < 0.01, right hand d = 1.70, left hand d = 1.67) and the control group (p < 0.0001, right hand d = 3.16, left hand d = 2.00). No significant differences were noted among the groups for right - left 2D:4D. We concluded that 2D:4D may discriminate between non-elite and world-class wrestlers. We also suggest that a low 2D:4D ratio could be linked to performance potential in wrestlers. As such, 2D:4D may provide additional information, which is valuable in determining the potential athleticism of an individual, when it is used in conjunction with other measures.

scholarly journals Digit ratio (2D:4D) and amniotic testosterone and estradiol: an attempted replication of Lutchmaya et al. (2004)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Gareth Richards ◽  
Wendy V. Browne ◽  
Mihaela Constantinescu
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Second Trimester ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Digit Ratios ◽  
Hormone Exposure ◽  
The Right ◽  
Digit Length ◽  
Attempted Replication

Abstract The ratio of length between the second (index) and fourth (ring) fingers (digit ratio or 2D:4D) is frequently employed as a retrospective marker of prenatal sex hormone exposure. Lutchmaya et al. (2004) reported that the ratio of testosterone (T) to estradiol (E) present in second-trimester amniotic fluid was negatively correlated with digit ratios for the right hand (but not the left hand) in a sample of 29 children at 2-year follow-up. This observation is frequently cited as evidence for the measure’s validity but has not been replicated. We therefore present the findings of another study of amniotic T and E that did not find evidence for these effects at 4½-year follow-up. The confidence intervals were large, the direction of correlations observed was generally erratic, and the overall findings question the premise that second-trimester sex hormones affect the development of digit length ratios in humans.

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