Digit ratio (2D:4D) and salivary testosterone, oestradiol and cortisol levels under challenge: Evidence for prenatal effects on adult endocrine responses

Experimental and Self‐reported Measures of Risk Taking and Digit Ratio (2d:4d): Evidence From a Large, Systematic Study

“…With the issue of two‐way causation out of the way, the question remains whether there is any relationship between the digit ratio and circulating testosterone levels. The jury is still out: Although Hönekopp et al.’s () meta‐analysis on a sizable body of research did not find any relationship between the digit ratio and circulating sex hormone levels in adults, more recent research suggests that the digit ratio is associated with circulating sex hormones under challenging situations, like fighting or competition (Coates et al., ; Crewther et al., ).…”

Relationships between the second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and game‐related statistics in semi‐professional female basketball players

“…Research has also suggested that 2D:4D may reflect the short‐term activational effects of testosterone. For example, low 2D:4D has been correlated with marked spikes in testosterone in men during “challenge” situations, such as those experienced during competitive sport (Crewther, Cook, Kilduff, & Manning, ), and with high sensitivity to circulating levels of testosterone in both men and women (Buskens, Raub, van Miltenburg, Montoya, & van Honk, ; Carré et al, ; Chen, Decety, Huang, Chen, & Cheng, ).…”

Strength and competitiveness are more strongly predictive of retrospective sport participation than 2D:4D in university-aged women

“…There are logistical, time, and financial restrictions to performing large-scale studies including the hormonal analyses of androgen status. As an alternative to hormonal analyses, the 2D:4D ratio has been examined as an indirect marker of prenatal androgen exposure within a variety of studies testing its relationship with sport performance (e.g., a cycle sprint test (Crewther et al 2015)), sporting ability (i.e., highest level achieved of all sports played from 11 years old (Paul et al 2006)) and sport-related psychological variables (i.e., mental toughness, optimism, goal orientations, aggression, and coping style (Golby and Meggs 2011)). Although studies have indicated that prenatal testosterone can influence sport interest (Giuliano et al 2000;Manning et al 2002) as well as participation in competitive sport (Hönekopp and Schuster 2010), to our knowledge, no studies have directly addressed androgens as a potential influence on recreational and competitive sport participation.…”