Scientists have discovered that finger length helps predict test exam
results, cancer, musical ability and aggressive personality.
In a study, British Journal of Psychology, scientists shows that 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 aggressive 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.
Previously, researchers have found a link between index and ring finger
lengths and homosexuality (see article in viewzone.)
They also found a link between low prenatal testosterone exposure,
which resulted in a shorter ring finger compared with the index finger, and
higher literacy SAT scores for girls.
This, says the scientists behind the study, suggests that measurements
of finger length could help predict how well children will do in maths and
literacy.
"We're not suggesting that finger length measurements could
replace SAT tests," said Dr Brosnan.
"Finger ratio provides us with an interesting insight into our
innate abilities in key cognitive areas.
"We are also looking at how digit ratio relates to other
behavioural issues, such as technophobia [fear of science], and career paths.
There is also interest in using digit ratio to identify homosexuality,
developmental disorders, such as dyslexia, which can be defined in terms of
literacy deficiencies, and aggressive vs. passive personalitity traits.
Source: http://viewzone2.com/fingers.html.
This research, published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, is
supported by the British Academy Centenary Research Project, Lucy to Language
-- a multi-disciplinary project that aims to understand the complexities of
human social evolution
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