Heritability of the Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2d:4d): A Twin Study

Paul, Simon; Kato, Bernet; Cherkas, Lynn; Andrew, Toby; Spector, Tim D.

doi:10.1375/twin.9.2.215

Cited by 84 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…This correlation was stronger for the right hand (the left was only marginally significant), which is consistent with similar results between right-hand 2D:4D and facial symmetry and attractiveness reported by Ferdenzi et al (2011), is interesting in view of recent studies suggesting heritability of 2D:4D ratio is higher in the right hand (Paul, Kato, Cherkas, Andrew, & Spector, 2006; the odor attractiveness-left 2D:4D ratio and odor attractiveness-right 2D:4D ratio correlations were not significantly different). The correlations suggest that individuals with more attractive odor were more likely to have lower (more masculine) ratios.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Body Odor Quality Predicts Behavioral Attractiveness in Humans

et al. 2011

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Growing effort is being made to understand how different attractive physical traits covary within individuals, partly because this might indicate an underlying index of genetic quality. In humans, attention has focussed on potential markers of quality such as facial attractiveness, axillary odor quality, the second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio and body-mass index (BMI). Here we extend this approach to include visually-assessed kinesic cues (nonverbal behavior linked to movement) which are statistically independent of structural physical traits. The utility of such kinesic cues in mate assessment is controversial, particularly during every day conversational contexts, as they could be unreliable and susceptible to deception. However, we show here that the attractiveness of nonverbal behavior, in 20 male participants, is predicted by perceived quality of their axillary body odor. This finding indicates covariation between two desirable traits in different sensory modalities. Depending on two different rating contexts (either a simple attractiveness rating, or a rating for long-term partners, by 10 female raters not using hormonal contraception), we also found significant relationships between perceived attractiveness of nonverbal behavior and BMI, and between axillary odor ratings and 2D:4D ratio. Axillary odor pleasantness was the single attribute that consistently predicted attractiveness of nonverbal behavior. Our results demonstrate that nonverbal kinesic cues could reliably reveal mate quality, at least in males, and could corroborate and contribute to mate assessment based on other physical traits.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Body Odor Quality Predicts Behavioral Attractiveness in Humans

et al. 2011

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“…On average, men have lower 2D:4D than women. 2D:4D is to a large extent genetically determined (Paul et al, 2006), but it may also be affected by the environment in utero. In any case, 2D:4D is determined before birth and thus before common economic, social, and cultural factors could shape competitive behavior of the individual directly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The visible hand: finger ratio (2D:4D) and competitive bidding

Pearson

Schipper

2011

Exp Econ

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Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. In an experiment using two-bidder first-price sealed bid auctions with symmetric independent private values and 400 subjects, we scan also the right hand of each subject. We study how the ratio of the length of the index and ring fingers (2D:4D) of the right hand, a measure of prenatal hormone exposure, is correlated with bidding behavior and total profits. 2D:4D has been reported to predict competitiveness in sports competition (Manning andTaylor, 2001, and Hoenekopp, Manning, and Mueller, 2006), risk aversion in lottery tasks Hoffman, 2007, Garbarino et al., 2010), and the average profitability of high-frequency traders in financial markets (Coates, Gurnell, and Rustichini, 2009). We do not find any significant correlation between 2D:4D on either bidding or profits. However, there might be racial differences in the correlation between 2D:4D and bidding and profits. Terms of use: Documents in AbstractIn an experiment using two-bidder first-price sealed bid auctions with symmetric independent private values and 400 subjects, we scan also the right hand of each subject. We study how the ratio of the length of the index and ring fingers (2D:4D) of the right hand, a measure of prenatal hormone exposure, is correlated with bidding behavior and total profits. 2D:4D has been reported to predict competitiveness in sports competition (Manning andTaylor, 2001, andHönekopp, Manning, andMüller, 2006), risk aversion in lottery tasks Hoffman, 2007, Garbarino et al., 2010), and the average profitability of high-frequency traders in financial markets (Coates, Gurnell, and Rustichini, 2009). We do not find any significant correlation between 2D:4D on either bidding or profits. However, there might be racial differences in the correlation between 2D:4D and bidding and profits.

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“…Support for this measure, according to some researchers, derives from the fact that digit growth and gonadal development are linked by the common inf luence of hox genes (11,17). Members of the homeobox-containing gene family (e.g., hoxa and hoxd) are strongly expressed in the genital bud and give rise to the urogenital system; yet, they also pattern limb development and digit growth (18).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts success among high-frequency financial traders

Coates

Gurnell

Rustichini

2009

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

300

251

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Prenatal androgens have important organizing effects on brain development and future behavior. The second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) has been proposed as a marker of these prenatal androgen effects, a relatively longer fourth finger indicating higher prenatal androgen exposure. 2D:4D has been shown to predict success in highly competitive sports. Yet, little is known about the effects of prenatal androgens on an economically influential class of competitive risk taking-trading in the financial world. Here, we report the findings of a study conducted in the City of London in which we sampled 2D:4D from a group of male traders engaged in what is variously called ''noise'' or ''high-frequency'' trading. We found that 2D:4D predicted the traders' long-term profitability as well as the number of years they remained in the business. 2D:4D also predicted the sensitivity of their profitability to increases both in circulating testosterone and in market volatility. Our results suggest that prenatal androgens increase risk preferences and promote more rapid visuomotor scanning and physical reflexes. The success and longevity of traders exposed to high levels of prenatal androgens further suggests that financial markets may select for biological traits rather than rational expectations.2D:4D ͉ neuro-economics ͉ risk taking ͉ market selection ͉ testosterone

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Heritability of the Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2d:4d): A Twin Study

Cited by 84 publications

References 17 publications

Body Odor Quality Predicts Behavioral Attractiveness in Humans

Body Odor Quality Predicts Behavioral Attractiveness in Humans

The visible hand: finger ratio (2D:4D) and competitive bidding

Second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts success among high-frequency financial traders

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