Differences in finger length ratio between males with autism, pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified, ADHD, and anxiety disorders

Bruin, Esther I. de; Verheij, Fop; Wiegman, T.; Ferdinand, Robert F.

doi:10.1017/s0012162206002118

Cited by 112 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Fourth, masculinized finger-length patterns appeared to be more specific to the domain of inattention than hyperactivity-impulsivity in boys and girls when the shared variance between the two symptom domains was eliminated. Controlling for, or covarying, ethnicity did not alter the results.These findings are consistent with recent studies in humans indicating that ADHD symptoms may be related to more masculinized finger-length ratios (de Bruin et al, 2006;Fink et al, 2007;McFadden et al, 2005;Stevenson et al, 2007;Williams et al, 2003). However, the present findings contradict several studies that found these relations in girls but not boys (Fink et al, 2007;Stevenson et al, 2007;Williams et al, 2003).…”

supporting

confidence: 90%

“…Boys with ADHD had more masculine digit ratios than control boys, F(3, 144) = 2.78, p < .05, η 2 = 0.06), whereas the effect in girls was trivial in size (η 2 = 0.02) and nonsignificant. This last finding was consistent with studies that examined these associations in clinically diagnosed samples (de Bruin et al, 2006;McFadden et al, 2005), but it contradicts other work utilizing rating scale data in nondiagnosed samples (Fink et al, 2007;Stevenson et al, 2007;Williams et al, 2003). We conducted bivariate correlations, shown in Table 3, to examine whether more masculine (i.e., lower) finger-length ratios were related to more inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms in the total group of children (i.e., boys and girls examined together).…”

supporting

confidence: 82%

“…Children (ages 7-15) with the inattentive subtype of ADHD (n = 61) had smaller CEOAEs and smaller finger-length ratios -specifically right 2D: 5D, 3D:5D, and 4D:5D-than children with the combined subtype of ADHD or typically developing control children, suggesting higher prenatal androgen exposure in the inattentive group. Thus, two studies utilizing diagnosed child samples (de Bruin et al, 2006;McFadden et al, 2005) found that children with externalizing disorders had more masculinized finger-length ratio patterns, findings that are consistent with the idea that higher levels of prenatal testosterone exposure are related to increased incidence of externalizing disorders and increased inattentive symptoms in childhood.We sought to replicate and extend recent work examining associations between finger-length ratios and ADHD by investigating distinct effects on inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and ADHD subtypes in a large, well-characterized, clinically evaluated sample of children with ADHD. In addition, handedness and number of older brothers were examined in relation to finger-length ratios and ADHD symptoms in a more exploratory fashion.…”

supporting

confidence: 58%

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Masculinized finger-length ratios of boys, but not girls, are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Martel

Gobrogge

Breedlove

et al. 2008

Behavioral Neuroscience

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Gonadal hormones may exert permanent organizational effects on sexually dimorphic finger-length ratios and sexually dimorphic behavior expressed in childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study extended recent work examining associations between finger-length ratios (specifically, 2D:4D) and ADHD in a well-characterized, clinically diagnosed, communityrecruited sample of boys and girls. A multistage, diagnostic procedure was utilized to identify 113 children with ADHD and 137 non-ADHD comparison children. Right-hand digit ratios showed significant mean differences by gender, as well as associations with ADHD diagnosis. Boys with ADHD had more masculinized digit ratios than control-group boys. More masculine right 2D:4D and 3D:4D ratios were correlated with parent-and teacher-rated inattentive and hyperactiveimpulsive symptoms in boys but not in girls. Masculinized finger-length ratios were associated with hyperactive-impulsive and oppositional-defiant symptoms, but associations were largest with symptoms of inattention. It is concluded that prenatal, organizational effects of gonadal hormones may play a role in the development of ADHD and contribute to explaining sex differences in the prevalence rates of this childhood disorder. Keywordstestosterone; finger-length ratio; 2D:4D; ADHD; sex differences Males are more vulnerable than females to developing a range of learning and behavioral disorders during childhood. Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common and impairing sexually dimorphic clinical psychopathologies, with boys about three times more likely to be identified with ADHD than girls in population samples (American Psychiatric Association, 2000;Pastor & Reuben, 2002;Wolraich, Hannah, Baumgaertel, & Feurer, 1998). In addition, there may be sex differences in the correlates of the disorder. Although boys with ADHD appear to be more inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive than girls with the disorder, particularly in school (Gaub & Carlson, 1997;Gershon, 2002;Hartung et al., 2002), girls with ADHD may have worse cognitive impairment than boys with the disorder (Biederman et al., 1999;Gaub & Carlson, 1997;Newcorn et al., 2001). The precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying sex differences in the prevalence rates of developmental learning and behavioral disorders are complex and underresearched.The male sex bias in ADHD and its precursor behaviors is apparent during early preschool years (Hart, Lahey, Loeber, Applegate, & Frick, 1995), a period marked by rapid neural organization (Breedlove & Hampson, 2002). Males are typically exposed to testosterone perinatally, whereas females develop in the relative absence of testosterone (Morris, Jordan, & Breedlove, 2004). This differential exposure to steroid hormones produces specific malelike and/or female-like brain-behavior patterns . Therefore, these prenatal events may be related to sex differences in prevalence rates of ADHD. However, research on hormonal effects in ADHD is sparse, despite conse...

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supporting

confidence: 90%

supporting

confidence: 82%

supporting

confidence: 58%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Masculinized finger-length ratios of boys, but not girls, are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Martel

Gobrogge

Breedlove

et al. 2008

Behavioral Neuroscience

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“…147 However, no significant correlation was found with neonatal testosterone levels in a cohort study.…”

Section: Prenatal Testosteronementioning

confidence: 89%

Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003–2013

Montigny

Ofner

et al. 2017

Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can

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Introduction: The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been rapidly rising in the past decade. The etiology of this disorder, however, is largely unknown, although the environmental relative to the genetic contribution is substantial. We conducted a scoping review to comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge of the environmental factors present from preconception to early life associated with ASD, and to identify research gaps.

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“…Other investigators have used image analysis to determine 2D:4D from images obtained from flatbed scanners (Bailey and Hurd, 2005;de Bruin et al, 2006;McFadden and Shubel, 2002), radiographs (McIntyre et al, 2005, and digital photographs (Honekopp et al, 2006a;Pokrywka et al, 2005). Bailey and Hurd (2005) showed good intraobserver reliability when a single observer measured finger lengths in 10 subjects using computer-assisted image analysis on hand scans while McFadden and Shubel (2002) showed good interobserver reliability when three observers measured finger lengths using similar computer-based calipers on scanned images of the hand.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Digit ratios (2D:4D) determined by computer‐assisted analysis are more reliable than those using physical measurements, photocopies, and printed scans

Allaway

Bloski

Pierson

et al. 2009

American J Hum Biol

111

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Prenatal androgens influence the second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) of hands with men having lower ratios than women. Numerous methods are used to assess 2D:4D including, physical measurements with calipers, and measurements made from photocopies, scanned images, digital photographs, radiographs, and scaled tubes. Although each method appears relatively reliable, agreement upon a gold standard is necessary to better explore the putative effects of prenatal androgens. Our objective was to assess the level of intra and interobserver reliability when evaluating 2D:4D using four techniques: (1) physical measurements, (2) photocopies, (3) printed scanned images, and (4) computer-assisted image analysis. Physical measurements, photocopies, and printed scanned images were measured with Vernier calipers. Scanned images were also measured with computer-based calipers. Measurements were made in 30 men and 30 women at two different time points, by three experienced observers. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess the level of reliability. Intraobserver reliability was best for computer-assisted (0.957), followed by photocopies (0.939), physical measurements (0.925), and printed scans (0.842; P = 0.015). Interobserver reliability was also greatest for computer-assisted (0.892), followed by photocopies (0.858), physical measurements (0.795), and printed scans (0.761; P = 0.001). Mean 2D:4D from physical measurements were higher than all other techniques (P < 0.0001). Digit ratios determined from computer-assisted, physical measurements, and printed scans were more reliable in men than women (P = 0.009, P = 0.017, and P = 0.012, respectively).In summary, 2D:4D determined from computer-assisted analysis yielded the most accurate and consistent measurements among observers. Investigations of 2D:4D should use computer-assisted measurements over alternate methods whenever possible.Prenatal androgen exposure influences development of the fingers and leads to distinct differences in hand patterns among men and women. In general, the ratio between the second (2D = index finger) and fourth (4D = ring finger) digits in men is lower than that observed in women (Lutchmaya et al., 2004;Manning et al., 1998). Anatomical evidence of prenatal androgen exposure has gained significance in recent times because there is growing evidence in animal models that adult traits and behaviors including, disease susceptibility may be programmed during fetal development (Abbott et al., 2006;Manikkam et al., 2004 Manning and Bundred, 2000;Robinson, 2006). Previous studies in humans have shown low digit ratios (2D:4D) to be associated with a variety of traits including, enhanced visual spatial ability (Burton et al., 2005;van Anders and Hampson, 2005), increased athleticism (Honekopp et al., 2006a), female homosexuality (Brown et al., 2002;Hall and Love, 2003;Kraemer et al., 2006;Williams et al., 2000), decreased susceptibility to coronary artery disease (Fink et al., 2003;Manning and Bundred, 2000), and greater fertility potent...

show abstract

Differences in finger length ratio between males with autism, pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified, ADHD, and anxiety disorders

Cited by 112 publications

References 20 publications

Masculinized finger-length ratios of boys, but not girls, are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Masculinized finger-length ratios of boys, but not girls, are associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003–2013

Digit ratios (2D:4D) determined by computer‐assisted analysis are more reliable than those using physical measurements, photocopies, and printed scans

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