The 2nd:4th digit ratio, sexual dimorphism, population differences, and reproductive success

Manning, John T.; Barley, L.; Walton, Julie; Lewis‐Jones, D. I.; Trivers, Robert; Singh, Devendrá; Thornhill, Randy; Rohde, Percy A.; Bereczkei, Tamás; Henzi, S. Peter; Soler, Manuel; Szwed, Anita

doi:10.1016/s1090-5138(00)00029-5

Cited by 382 publications

(341 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In accordance with previous reports (for a review see Manning et al 6 ), a sex difference in 2D:4D was found, as mean male 2D:4D ratio was significantly lower than mean female 2D:4D. The difference was statistically significant for left-hand 2D:4D ratio but not for the right-hand 2D:4D ratio (unpaired t-tests; right hand: t(242) ¼ 0.992, P ¼ 0.322; left hand: t(242) ¼ 2.681, P ¼ 0.008).…”

Section: Sex Differencessupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The 2nd and 4th digits were measured on the palmar surface of the hand from the basal crease proximal to the palm to the tip of the finger using Vernier calipers measuring to 0.01 mm (for reviews see Garn et al 5 , Manning et al 6 ). It should be noted that accurate calculation of 2D:4D is not dependent on measurement of finger lengths to 0.01 mm as sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D has been shown from measurements made to the nearest mm with a ruler or tape measure.…”

Section: Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the WHR in women is positively correlated with serum levels of testosterone and negatively with women's 2D:4D 6 and the WHR of mothers is negatively related to the 2D:4D of their children. 9 WHR in female subjects appears to be directly linked to health and fertility as it has been shown to be an accurate predictor of risk for various diseases (e.g., Singh 10 and Abbott et al 11 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…[1][2][3][4] Relative finger lengths are determined before birth at around week 13 of gestation, 5 the sex difference is present in children, 4,5 and sex differences in 2D:4D are robust across a number of ethnic groups and races. 3,6,7 The sexual dimorphism in 2D:4D has been known for many years and studies now provide direct and indirect evidence for the suggestion that sex differences in 2D:4D arise from in utero concentrations of sex steroids (for a review see Manning 3 ), with 2D:4D negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively associated with prenatal estrogen.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The 2nd–4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease

2005

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Background:The ratio of the lengths of the 2nd and 4th digit (2D:4D) is negatively related to prenatal and adult concentrations of testosterone (T). Testosterone appears to be a protective against myocardial infarction (MI) in men as men with low 2D:4D are older at first MI than men with high 2D:4D, and men with coronary artery disease have lower T levels than men with normal angiograms. Neck circumference (NC), a simple and time-saving screening measure to identify obesity is reported to be positively correlated with the factors of the metabolic syndrome, a complex breakdown of normal physiology characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, and is therefore likely to increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Objective: To investigate possible associations between 2D:4D ratios and NC in men and women. Research methods and procedures: 2D:4D ratios, NC, along with measures of waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio was recorded from 127 men and 117 women. Results: A significant positive correlation between 2D:4D and NC and was found for men but not for women after controlling for body mass index (BMI); the higher the ratio the higher the NC. Discussion: This finding supports the suggestion of NC to serve as a predictor for increased risk for CHD as previously suggested. In addition, the present association suggests a predisposition for men towards CHD via 2D:4D as proxy to early sex-steroid exposure.

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Section: Sex Differencessupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The 2nd–4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease

2005

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“…The 2D:4D ratio has been studied in the context of reproductive success (Manning et al, 2000), sex-typed behavior (Csathó et al, 2003a), spatial/cognitive abilities (Csathó et al, 2003b;Kempel et al, 2005;Manning, 2002; but see Coolican & Peters, 2003), adult personality characteristics (Austin, Manning, McInroy, & Matthews, 2002;Bailey & Hurd, 2005a;Fink, Manning, & Neave, 2004), and more recently in the context of psychopathology (Arato, Frecska, Beck, An, & Kiss, 2004;Bailey & Hurd, 2005b;Klump et al, 2006;Manning, BaronCohen, Wheelwright, & Sanders, 2001;McFadden, Westhafer, Pasanen, Carlson, & Tucker, 2005;Walder, Andersson, McMillan, Breedlove, & Walker, 2006). Generally, digit ratios show positive correlations with female-typical behaviors and negative correlations with male-typical behaviors (for review, see Putz, Gaulin, Sporter, & McBurney, 2004), and this pattern of results appears to generalize to sex-linked psychopathology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxiety, Sex-Linked Behaviors, and Digit Ratios (2D:4D)

Evardone

Alexander

2007

Arch Sex Behav

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The second to fourth (2D:4D) digit ratio, a sexually dimorphic, phenotypic characteristic putatively associated with perinatal androgen action, has been used to evaluate the hypothesized relation between prenatal hormonal factors and a variety of sexually dimorphic behaviors, including sexlinked psychopathology. Smaller digit ratios, suggestive of stronger perinatal androgen action, have been associated with male-linked disorders (e.g., autism), and larger digit ratios, suggestive of weaker perinatal androgen action, have been associated with female-linked disorders (e.g., depression and eating disorders). To evaluate the possible relation between digit ratio and another traditionally female-linked disorder, anxiety, 2D:4D ratios were measured in a non-clinical sample (58 men, 52 women). Participants also completed a battery of anxiety and gender role measures and performed two spatial/cognitive tasks typically showing a male advantage (mental rotation and targeting) and two tasks typically showing a female advantage (location memory and spatial working memory). Men with a more feminine pattern of sex-linked traits and behaviors (including digit ratios) reported greater anxiety. In contrast, greater anxiety in women was associated with both female-typical and male-typical traits and behaviors, and no significant association between digit ratio and anxiety was found. This pattern of results suggests that the development of anxiety is multiply determined, with contributing factors varying by sex.

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2D:4D in Men Is Related to Aggressive Dominance but Not to Sociable Dominance

Meij

Almela

Buunk

et al. 2012

Aggressive Behavior

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It has been shown that a smaller ratio between the length of the second and fourth digit (2D:4D) is an indicator of the exposure to prenatal testosterone (T). This study measured the 2D:4D of men and assessed dominance as a personality trait to investigate indirectly if the exposure to prenatal T is related to a dominant personality later in life. Results showed that men had a more aggressive dominant personality when having a more masculine (lower) 2D:4D, while there was no relationship between sociable dominance and 2D:4D. Findings from this study indicate that it is important to distinguish different forms of dominance since other studies failed to find relationships between dominance and 2D:4D.

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The 2nd:4th digit ratio, sexual dimorphism, population differences, and reproductive success

Cited by 382 publications

References 40 publications

The 2nd–4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease

The 2nd–4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease

Anxiety, Sex-Linked Behaviors, and Digit Ratios (2D:4D)

2D:4D in Men Is Related to Aggressive Dominance but Not to Sociable Dominance

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