What the Length of Your Index Finger Says About You
Your finger length can predict how you will do on various tests
in school. They can also tell if you are likely to be homosexual or straight, if
you will likely get certain cancers, be a musician, writer or a scientist, or if
you will have an aggresssive or passive personality.The two fingers that are
important are the index finger -- the one you use to point to something -- and
the ring finger.
Reading, writing and arithmetic...
In a recent study from the help of online universities, the results of
mathematics and literacy (reading) tests for seven-year-old children could be
predicted by measuring the length of these two fingers.
In a study to be published in the British Journal of Psychology, scientists
compared the finger lengths of 75 children with their Standardised Assessment
Test (SAT) scores. They found a clear link between a child's performance in
numeracy and literacy tests and the relative lengths of their index (pointing)
and ring fingers.
Scientists believe that the link is caused by different levels of the hormones
testosterone and estrogen in the womb -- and the effect they have on both brain
development and finger length. This is nothing new, since scientists have known
for many years that elevated levels of testosterone -- or other hormones closely
resembling testosterone -- can cause the brains of both males and females to be
more "masculine."
It has long been known that boys tend to do better on math tests while girls do
better at writing, reading and verbal tests.
"Testosterone has been argued to promote development of the areas of the brain
which are often associated with spatial and mathematical skills," said Dr Mark
Brosnan, Head of the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, who led
the study.
"Estrogen is thought to do the same in the areas of the brain which are often
associated with verbal ability. "Interestingly, these hormones are also thought
have a say in the relative lengths of our index and ring fingers.
"We can use measurements of these fingers as a way of gauging the relative
exposure to these two hormones in the womb and as we have shown through this
study, we can also use them to predict ability in the key areas of numeracy and
literacy."
How they did the research
The researchers made photocopies of the palm of the children's hands and then
measured the length of their index finger and ring finger on both hands using
callipers, accurate to 0.01mm. They then divided the length of the index finger
by that of the ring finger -- to calculate the child's digit ratio.
When they compared this ratio to the children's SAT scores, they found that a
smaller ratio (i.e. a longer ring finger and therefore greater prenatal exposure
to testosterone) meant a larger difference between ability in maths and
literacy, favouring math skills relative to reading and speaking skills.
When they looked at boy's and girl's performance separately, the researchers
found a clear link between high prenatal testosterone exposure, as measured by
digit ratio, and higher numeracy SAT scores in males.
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