What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report?

**Martijn (admin)** Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:01 pm

This month (nov 2010), various new '2D:4D finger ratio' studies have been presented; we can use this topic just to present an overview of the new studies.

'DIGIT RATIO' REPORTS IN NOVEMBER 2010:

• FINGER LENGTH SHOWS: Neanderthals were more competitive & promiscuous!
• Scientists believe technophobia starts in the womb - indicated by digit ratio
• Alpha Males Take Greater Risks: Study Links Finger Length to Behavior

**Martijn (admin)** Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:07 pm

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Left-brain-right-brain

The following includes interesting materials regarding the fundamental (unanswered) question:

'How to value 2D:4D differences between the right hand and left hand?'

Earlier this year (january 2010) the following (Nigerian?) presentation was published online: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/45727474/Digit_ratio

Some key elements in this presentation concern the results for handedness (see page 14 + 15):

- In right handed people the '2D:4D digit ratio' in the right hand is usually HIGHER than the ratio in the left hand (in this study this pattern is also frequently seen in males);
- In left handed people the '2D:4D digit ratio' in the right hand is much more often LOWER than the ratio in the left hand.

PS. Likewise results have been published in Manning's first book (2002, chapter 5), plus e.g. the following studies:

- Finger Length Ratio (2D:4D) in Left- and Right-Handed Males (2009)
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03008200802323883

"The value of Dr–l in left-handers was significantly lower than Dr–l in right-handers."

- DIGIT RATIO (2D:4D), LATERAL PREFERENCES, AND PERFORMANCE IN FENCING (2006) - e.g. low D[r-l] correlates positively with fencing results
http://www.amsciepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pms.103.2.427-446

"For men, negative right-left differences in 2D:4D corresponded significantly to better current as well as highest national fencing rankings, independent of training intensity and fencing experience."

- The 2nd:4th digit ratio and asymmetry of hand performance in Jamaican children (2000)
http://evolution-of-religion.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/manning-trivers-thornhill-singh-2000-2nd4th-digit-ratio.pdf

"In both samples the difference in 2D:4D ratio between
the hands (2D:4D left hand–2D:4D right hand) showed the strongest relationship
with LHP i.e. high ratio in the left and low in the right correlated with a tendency
towards a fast performance with the left hand."

**Martijn (admin)** Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:00 pm

Another great article:

An extended review of the prostate cancer research seen in the perspective of the digit ratio research so far!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1335155/What-length-index-finger-says-you.html

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Article-1335155-0C53D032000005DC-118_468x460

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Article-1335155-0C53D032000005DC-118_468x460

**Martijn (admin)** Mon Dec 13, 2010 8:43 pm

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? 101202124846

DECEMBER 3, 2010 - ScienceDaily.com:
Finger Length Predicts Mental Toughness in Sport

Mental toughness and an aptitude for sport may be biologically determined. This is one of the findings of an ongoing research project involving post-doctoral and doctoral research by Dr Jim Golby and Jennifer Meggs from Teesside University who will present their work on November 10 at the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology's Annual Conference being held at the Holiday Inn London -- Camden Lock.

Previous research has shown that the 2D:4D ratio (index finger/ring finger) has the potential to explain sporting success. An index finger that is much shorter than the ring finger is caused by exposure to testosterone in the womb. This research investigated the relationship between 2D:4D and mental toughness, optimism, aggression and performance.

Sixty-seven participants had their fingers measured and completed personality and aggression questionnaires.

The results showed that participants with 2D:4D ratio were more likely to demonstrate mental toughness and have higher levels of sporting achievements.

Dr Golby explained: "It appears that high prenatal levels of testosterone may result in increased mental toughness, optimism and hence aptitude towards sport. This provides tentative support for the conclusion that mental toughness may be partially biologically predetermined."

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

**Martijn (admin)** Thu Dec 06, 2012 5:32 pm

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? SuperStock_1560R-2056351

A new digit ratio study from Bufflo (New York) reports:

'Relative Length of Adults' Fingers Indicator of Verbal Aggression'

A new study in the Journal of Communication links verbal aggression to prenatal testosterone exposure. The lead researcher, at University at Buffalo -- The State University of New York, used the 2D:4D measure to predict verbal aggression. This study is the first to use this method to examine prenatal testosterone exposure as a determinant of a communication trait.

http://fingerlengthdigitratio.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/new-report-confirms-finger-length-linked-with-verbal-aggression/

PS. Earlier studies have produced likewise results:
http://fingerlengthdigitratio.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/aggression-testosterone-and-your-finger-length/

**Martijn (admin)** Mon May 27, 2013 12:14 am

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Open

April 2013 report:

Effect of Prenatal Androgen on Adult Personality:
Greater Openness with More Female-Typical 2D:4D Digit Ratios

Abstract
One hundred seven university community participants (71 female, 36 male) were evaluated on the five personality factors (NEO-FFI), and finger lengths were measured to determine the ratio of the second to fourth digit (2D:4D). It is well-established that 2D:4D ratios are an index of prenatal androgenic activity. Sex differences were found such that the men had lower 2D:4D ratios than the women for both the left and right hands, and the women indicated greater Neuroticism than the men, as reported by others. Most interestingly, greater Openness was significantly associated with more female-typical (higher) 2D:4D ratios for the entire sample. This was significant for the male sample alone, and was found at a trend level in the female sample alone.

NOTICE: 'Openness' is one of the Big Five personality dimensions:

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Big%20Five

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Five_facets

woodwater Tue Nov 05, 2013 12:28 pm

http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/13549/

hi the study above seems at odds with the fact that México and Portugal are high testosterone nations,given that they are quite high in Uncertainty avoidance.Low UAI nations appear to have higher T

**Martijn (admin)** Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:47 pm

woodwater wrote:http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/13549/

hi the study above seems at odds with the fact that México and Portugal are high testosterone nations,given that they are quite high in Uncertainty avoidance.Low UAI nations appear to have higher T

Hi woodwater,

Would you mind to explain what you exactly have in mind, because the summary of that study does not include any references to Mexico and Portugal. Do you have access to the full article?

wave

woodwater Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:11 pm

Martijn (admin) wrote:
woodwater wrote:http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/13549/

hi the study above seems at odds with the fact that México and Portugal are high testosterone nations,given that they are quite high in Uncertainty avoidance.Low UAI nations appear to have higher T
Hi woodwater,

Would you mind to explain what you exactly have in mind, because the summary of that study does not include any references to Mexico and Portugal. Do you have access to the full article?

Hi Martijn
Portugal has the second highest índex in Uncertainty avoidance(anxiety) Hofstede indexes and México isnt far.
Since the article claims high UAI nations have lowr T levels this is at odds with the claim these countries have high T
See the Hofsted indexes here
http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html

**Martijn (admin)** Sat Nov 09, 2013 10:11 am

Sorry, I think you are making connections that have not been researched explicitly in the first study that you have mentioned. It also appears to me that you have made some associations with the results of Manning's internet study... again, those results are based on self-measurements.

**Martijn (admin)** Sun Dec 01, 2013 12:02 pm

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Video-game-addiction1

(Also featured at the digit ratio blog: http://fingerlengthdigitratio.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/low-2d4d-values-are-associated-with-video-game-addiction/ )

In november 2013 the very first 2D:4D digit ratio study was presented focussed on 'gaming addiction' in young males (age range: 18-21):

Low 2D:4D Values Are Associated with Video Game Addiction

Abstract

Androgen-dependent signaling regulates the growth of the fingers on the human hand during embryogenesis. A higher androgen load results in lower 2D:4D (second digit to fourth digit) ratio values. Prenatal androgen exposure also impacts brain development. 2D:4D values are usually lower in males and are viewed as a proxy of male brain organization. Here, we quantified video gaming behavior in young males. We found lower mean 2D:4D values in subjects who were classified according to the CSAS-II as having at-risk/addicted behavior (n = 27) compared with individuals with unproblematic video gaming behavior (n = 27). Thus, prenatal androgen exposure and a hyper-male brain organization, as represented by low 2D:4D values, are associated with problematic video gaming behavior. These results may be used to improve the diagnosis, prediction, and prevention of video game addiction.

Full report is available here:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0079539

The illustrations provide an impression of the results:

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Journal.pone.0079539

What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report? Journal.pone.0079539

woodwater Sun Dec 01, 2013 1:25 pm

Martijn (admin) wrote:

April 2013 report:

Effect of Prenatal Androgen on Adult Personality:
Greater Openness with More Female-Typical 2D:4D Digit Ratios

Abstract
One hundred seven university community participants (71 female, 36 male) were evaluated on the five personality factors (NEO-FFI), and finger lengths were measured to determine the ratio of the second to fourth digit (2D:4D). It is well-established that 2D:4D ratios are an index of prenatal androgenic activity. Sex differences were found such that the men had lower 2D:4D ratios than the women for both the left and right hands, and the women indicated greater Neuroticism than the men, as reported by others. Most interestingly, greater Openness was significantly associated with more female-typical (higher) 2D:4D ratios for the entire sample. This was significant for the male sample alone, and was found at a trend level in the female sample alone.

NOTICE: 'Openness' is one of the Big Five personality dimensions:

Men with feminine ratio are more consciencious and outgoing????

**Martijn (admin)** Sun Dec 01, 2013 4:01 pm

woodwater wrote:
Men with feminine ratio are more consciencious and outgoing????

Maybe more conscientious, be not more outgoing; please explain: why did you make this association...???

NOTICE: The study which you responded to only presents a positive correlation for the Big Five dimension 'Openness' (that result should not be connected to the other 4 Big Five dimensions - however I could add here that other studies have presented results that point towards a negative correlation with Extraversion and a possitive correlation with Neutoricism)

woodwater Sun Dec 01, 2013 4:31 pm

because pink appears to be for high ratios
thanks

**Martijn (admin)** Mon Dec 02, 2013 12:44 am

woodwater wrote:because pink appears to be for high ratios
thanks

Sorry, I now recognize how my pictures have confused you because the Big Five pictures that I shared in my post about the april 2013 digit ratio study do not relate to that digiti ratio study at all.

(The Big Five pictures only served as an illustration to display what the Big Five personality dimensions are about, however, the words 'high scores' do not relate to a 'high digit ratios', etc).

I hope this now makes more sense for you?

Smile

cnriley45 Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:59 am

Am I understanding the article correctly that if your right handed the 2D4D will be higher in the right hand compared to left hand , and viceversa for a left handed person?

**Martijn (admin)** Thu Jul 10, 2014 1:23 pm

cnriley45 wrote:Am I understanding the article correctly that if your right handed the 2D4D will be higher in the right hand compared to left hand , and viceversa for a left handed person?

Yes, that is indeed what most of the studies related to this topic have pointed out:
https://www.modernhandreadingforum.com/t352-what-do-new-2d4d-digit-ratio-studies-report#3423

However, the typical statistical difference between left- and right handers is very often not a consistent effect that can be seen in the hands of every individual. So, the rule that you are referring to will often not correctly for individuals... and I think even some reports have produced inconsistent results. It's most likely just a 'statistical' tendency.

I hope I have explained this well?

**Martijn (admin)** Fri Jul 11, 2014 1:16 pm

Here's another study which also confirms the tendency for left handers to have lower digit ratios than right hands, however... interestingly this other 2008 report describes that more accurate results will be found when 'finger length' is also considered:

http://www.chrisjackson.biz/publications/digit_change.pdf

(NOTICE: This study basically reports that 'left handedness' is most likely when 2d:4d digit ratio and the average of 2d and 4d show opposite tendencies regarding the related hormonal issues; for example when 2d:4d is low (typical for males) & the average of 2d and 4d is short (typical for females), or when 2d:4d is high (typical for females) & the average of 2d and 4d is long (typical for males).

cnriley45 Sat Jul 12, 2014 5:05 am

Interesting...My husband is also left handed and his index fingers are low 2D4D fingers but his index finger is bigger on his left hand...The other thing about him is if he were diagnosed today he would more than likely be Asperger's ..still working on getting him to scan his hands

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What do new '2D:4D digit ratio' studies report?

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About right handness /left handness

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