Higher literacy (compared to numeracy) in children.Higher verbal fluency (both sexes) and visual recall in females.Higher in Big Five Openness, as well as paranormal / superstitious beliefs.Increased risk of anxiety / depression in males.Higher numeracy (compared to literacy) in children.Higher rates of alcohol dependence in men.Higher rates of ADHD and autistic traits.Perceived ‘dominance’ and ‘masculinity’ of man’s face (i.e., broader face).Here are some of the more noteworthy correlations: Wikipedia has an extensive list of traits associated with digit ratio. However, according to the leading expert in this field, John Manning, white homosexual men generally have more feminine finger ratios. The findings are somewhat less clear in gay men. In particular, lesbians tend to have a more masculine digit ratio than heterosexual women.

Prenatal testosterone exposure and digit ratio are also related to sexual orientation. To minimize any confusion regarding this inverse relationship, I will typically describe the ratios as more masculine (i.e., “masculine ratio”) or feminine rather than using the lower vs. Men generally have lower digit ratios and higher prenatal testosterone than women. Technically speaking, they are inversely related. This suggests that a mother’s degree of masculinity / femininity will be reflected in her offspring (so be sure to call your mom today and thank her for her contributions to your brain and psychology).įor those who aren’t mathematically inclined, digit ratio can be a bit confusing because: Lower Digit Ratio = Higher Prenatal T estosterone Thus, those with masculinized brains don’t require high levels of circulating testosterone to experience its effects.Īnother interesting finding is that children tend to have digit ratios similar to their mother’s. So if you were exposed to higher levels of testosterone prenatally, your system will show a heightened response to whatever testosterone is in your bloodstream compared to individuals with lower prenatal exposure. HOWEVER, we also know that prenatal testosterone exposure increases sensitivity to testosterone throughout life. While the scientific jury is still out, prenatal and circulating testosterone levels may be relatively unrelated. According to this paper in the Journal of Research in Personality, animal research suggests that “the effects of prenatal testosterone are graded and linear-higher levels of exposure lead to more male-typical behavior and brain structure.” In other words, higher prenatal testosterone paves the way for a more masculine brain.īefore proceeding any further, it’s important that we distinguish between prenatal versus circulating testosterone (i.e., the amount currently in your bloodstream). Human and animal studies have consistently demonstrated that prenatal testosterone exposure steers gender-related behavior and brain development. Finger / Digit Ratio & Testosterone Research

Before discussing digit ratio and its relationship to personality type, however, let’s first examine some of the key scientific findings and effects of prenatal testosterone. In particular, as we will soon discuss, Myers-Briggs enthusiasts may be excited to learn that your digit ratio likely corresponds to your Thinking (T) – Feeling (F) preference, with more masculine ratios suggesting a Thinking preference and more feminine ratios a Feeling preference. The short answer is that our degree of testosterone exposure, as approximated by our digit ratio, corresponds to how masculine versus feminine our brain and cognition is. So what? Why should we care about prenatal testosterone? The uncanny phenomenon is this: the ratio of your second (i.e., index finger) to fourth (i.e., ring finger) finger is a reliable indicator of your prenatal testosterone exposure during gestational weeks 12-16. Study after study has shown it to be a scientific reality, one that offers fascinating insights into human biology and psychology. What you’re about to read may seem so strange and uncanny as to warrant derision as pseudoscience.

Finger 2d 4d ratio