EVIDENCE FOR ASSORTATIVE MATING ON DIGIT RATIO (2D:4D), A BIOMARKER FOR PRENATAL ANDROGEN EXPOSURE

2007 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN VORACEK ◽  
STEFAN G. DRESSLER ◽  
JOHN T. MANNING
Keyword(s):  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Androgen Exposure ◽  
The Right ◽  
Prenatal Androgen ◽  
Spousal Similarity

SummaryThe second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) presents an anatomical sex difference in humans. On average, men tend to have lower 2D:4D compared with women. There is fairly strong evidence for a role of the 2D:4D ratio as a biomarker for the organizational (permanent) effects of prenatal testosterone on the brain and behaviour. Recently, an accumulating research programme has shown 2D:4D to be related to a multitude of sex-dependent, hormonally influenced biosocial traits and phenotypes which reach into the domains of ability, behaviour, fertility, health, personality and sexuality. This study investigated the degree of assortative mating (spousal similarity) in a sample of 239 native Austrian couples of parental or grandparental age, all of them having reproduced. Results included: (i) significant spousal correlations of +0·19 and +0·18 for right-hand and left-hand 2D:4D, respectively, and +0·24 for average 2D:4D; (ii) no assortative mating effect on the right-minus-left difference in 2D:4D; (iii) indications consistent with a possible generational decrease of spousal similarity in 2D:4D; (iv) a prevalence of couples with a lower right-hand 2D:4D observed in the husband compared with his wife; and (v) relations of spousal 2D:4D patterns to spousal age differences, such that matings of men with more male-typical trait expressions (namely, a generally low right-hand 2D:4D or showing a lower right-minus-left 2D:4D difference than their wives) implicated larger male-minus-female age differences, i.e. younger wives. It is argued that assortative mating on 2D:4D operates indirectly and may be mediated through the assortment on other, more perceptible, physical traits and psychological phenotypes that entertain associations with 2D:4D and are relevant for courtship and mate choice.

The Relation of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Absolute Finger Length to Pavlovian Temperament Dimensions

2008 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 783-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Voracek
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Finger Length ◽  
Androgen Action ◽  
Androgen Exposure ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Prenatal Androgen Exposure ◽  
Strength Of Excitation ◽  
Prenatal Androgen

The associations of digit ratio (2D:4D), a likely marker for prenatal androgen exposure, and absolute finger length, a likely marker for postnatal androgen exposure, with self-reports on three Pavlovian temperament dimensions (strength of excitation, strength of inhibition, and mobility of nervous processes) were investigated in a sample of 84 men and 114 women. In men, left-hand 2D:4D was weakly, but significantly, negatively associated with strength of inhibition, and also weakly negatively, but not significantly, associated with the two other temperament dimensions. These effects were absent for men's right-hand 2D:4D. Finger lengths of both hands in men were weakly, but significantly, positively associated with mobility of nervous processes scores. All associations for women were negligible. Both prenatal and postnatal androgen action may contribute to small amounts of individual differences in Pavlovian temperament dimensions in men but apparently not in women.

Finger, Sex, and Side Differences in Fingertip Size and Lack of Association with Image-Based Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Measurements

2008 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Voracek ◽  
Jakob Pietschnig ◽  
Michael Oeckher
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Digit Ratio ◽  
Fourth Digit ◽  
Androgen Exposure ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Measurement Protocol ◽  
Prenatal Androgen Exposure ◽  
The Right ◽  
Putative Marker ◽  
Prenatal Androgen

Different methods for measuring the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen exposure, may lead to varying values of 2D:4D. Specifically, it has been hypothesized that fingertip fat pads may be differentially deformed when taking palm images (photocopies or flatbed scans), but not when fingers are measured directly, thus yielding lower 2D:4D values from image-based measurements rather than direct ones. A measurement protocol for fingertip size is unavailable, as are data on finger and sex differences in this trait. Introducing such a protocol, this study found very large finger differences in adult fingertip size (largest for 4D, smaller for 3D and 5D, smallest for 2D), large side differences (larger in the left than in the right hand of right-handed subjects), but only small and not significant sex differences. Fingertip size was unrelated to image-based 2D:4D measurements, suggesting that fingertip size and the extent of finger and sex differences therein are unlikely to explain discrepant 2D:4D values obtained from image-based versus direct measurements.

Editorial Note

1946 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-2
Keyword(s):  
Editorial Note ◽  
Speech Sounds ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Hand Column ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Infant Speech ◽  
The Right

In the article “Infant Speech Sounds and Intelligence” by Orvis C. Irwin and Han Piao Chen, in the December 1945 issue of the Journal, the paragraph which begins at the bottom of the left hand column on page 295 should have been placed immediately below the first paragraph at the top of the right hand column on page 296. To the authors we express our sincere apologies.

scholarly journals Digit Variability in Carotenoid Scores Obtained with the Veggie Meter: A Pilot Study (P02-001-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Velarie Ansu ◽  
Stephanie Dickinson ◽  
Alyce Fly
Keyword(s):  
Indiana University ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Period Data ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Right ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Mean Square Errors

Abstract Objectives To determine which digit and hand have the highest and lowest skin carotenoid scores, to compare inter-and-intra-hand variability of digits, and to determine if results are consistent with another subject. Methods Two subjects’ first(F1), second(F2), third(F3) and fifth(F5) digits on both hands were measured for skin carotenoids with a Veggie Meter, for 3 times on each of 18 days over a 37-day period. Data were subjected to ANOVA in a factorial treatment design to determine main effects for hand (2 levels), digits (4), and days (18) along with interactions. Differences between digits were determined by Tukey's post hoc test. Results There were significant hand x digit, hand x day, digit x day, and hand x digit x day interactions and significant simple main effects for hand, digit, and day (all P < 0.001). Mean square errors were 143.67 and 195.62 for subject A and B, respectively, which were smaller than mean squares for all main effects and interactions. The mean scores ± SD for F1, F2, F3, and F5 digits for the right vs left hands for subject A were F1:357.13 ± 45.97 vs 363.74 ± 46.94, F2:403.17 ± 44.77 vs. 353.20 ± 44.13, F3:406.76 ± 43.10 vs. 357.11 ± 45.13, and F5:374.95 ± 53.00 vs. 377.90 ± 47.38. For subject B, the mean scores ± SD for digits for the right vs left hands were F1:294.72 ± 61.63 vs 280.71 ± 52.48, F2:285.85 ± 66.92 vs 252.67 ± 67.56, F3:268.56 ± 57.03 vs 283.22 ± 45.87, and F5:288.18 ± 34.46 vs 307.54 ± 40.04. The digits on the right hand of both subjects had higher carotenoid scores than those on the left hands, even though subjects had different dominant hands. Subject A had higher skin carotenoid scores on the F3 and F2 digits for the right hand and F5 on the left hand. Subject B had higher skin carotenoid scores on F5 (right) and F1 (left) digits. Conclusions The variability due to hand, digit, and day were all greater than that of the 3 replicates within the digit-day for both volunteers. This indicates that data were not completely random across the readings when remeasuring the same finger. Different fingers displayed higher carotenoid scores for each volunteer. There is a need to conduct a larger study with more subjects and a range of skin tones to determine whether the reliability of measurements among digits of both hands is similar across the population. Funding Sources Indiana University.

scholarly journals Differences in digit ratios between gay men who prefer receptive versus insertive sex roles indicate a role for prenatal androgen

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashlyn Swift-Gallant ◽  
Victor Di Rita ◽  
Christina A. Major ◽  
Christopher J. Breedlove ◽  
Cynthia L. Jordan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gay Men ◽  
Sex Role ◽  
Gender Nonconformity ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Digit Ratios ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Prenatal Androgens ◽  
The Right ◽  
Prenatal Androgen

AbstractAmong non-human mammals, exposure to androgens during critical periods of development leads to gynephilia (attraction to females), whereas the absence or low levels of prenatal androgens leads to androphilia (attraction to males). However, in humans, retrospective markers of prenatal androgens have only been associated with gynephilia among women, but not with androphilia among men. Here, we asked whether an indirect indication of prenatal androgen exposure, 2D:4D, differs between subsets of gay men delineated by anal sex role (ASR). ASR was used as a proxy for subgroups because ASR groups tend to differ in other measures affected by brain sexual differentiation, such as gender conformity. First, we replicated the finding that gay men with a receptive ASR preference (bottoms) report greater gender nonconformity (GNC) compared to gay men with an insertive ASR preference (tops). We then found that Tops have a lower (male-typical) average right-hand digit ratio than Bottoms, and that among all gay men the right-hand 2D:4D correlated with GNC, indicating that a higher (female-typical) 2D:4D is associated with increased GNC. Differences were found between non-exclusive and exclusive same-sex attraction and GNC, and ASR group differences on digit ratios do not reach significance when all non-heterosexual men are included in the analyses, suggesting greater heterogeneity in the development of non-exclusive same-sex sexual orientations. Overall, results support a role for prenatal androgens, as approximated by digit ratios, in influencing the sexual orientation and GNC of a subset of gay men.

The State Policy towards the Homeless in Moldova between the ‘Left Hand’ and the ‘Right Hand’. The Case of Chișinău Shelter

Südosteuropa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-195
Author(s):  
Petru Negură
Keyword(s):  
Homeless People ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
The State ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Binary Approach ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract The Centre for the Homeless in Chișinău embodies on a small scale the recent evolution of state policies towards the homeless in Moldova (a post-Soviet state). This institution applies the binary approach of the state, namely the ‘left hand’ and the ‘right hand’, towards marginalised people. On the one hand, the institution provides accommodation, food, and primary social, legal assistance and medical care. On the other hand, the Shelter personnel impose a series of disciplinary constraints over the users. The Shelter also operates a differentiation of the users according to two categories: the ‘recoverable’ and those deemed ‘irrecoverable’ (persons with severe disabilities, people with addictions). The personnel representing the ‘left hand’ (or ‘soft-line’) regularly negotiate with the employees representing the ‘right hand’ (‘hard-line’) of the institution to promote a milder and a more humanistic approach towards the users. This article relies on multi-method research including descriptive statistical analysis with biographical records of 810 subjects, a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with homeless people (N = 65), people at risk of homelessness (N = 5), professionals (N = 20) and one ethnography of the Shelter.

scholarly journals The Left Hand Doesn’t Know What the Right Hand Is Doing—or Does It?

Cell Reports ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 2809-2810
Author(s):  
Jody C. Culham
Keyword(s):  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
The Right

Nog een suggestie voor het onderwerp van Rembrandts historiestuk te Leiden: De grootmoedigheid van Alexander

1987 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-94
Author(s):  
J. Bruyn
Keyword(s):  
17Th Century ◽  
General Nature ◽  
History Painting ◽  
Emotional Words ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Political Allegory ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Background Wave ◽  
The Right

AbstractOf the nine interpretations proposed for Rembraradt's history Painting of 1626 now at Leiden, none is really convincing. Il seems attractive to think of palamedes Condemned by Agamemncm as the subject because of its political significance in the year after the publication of Voredel's tragecty Palamedcs or Innocence Murdered, which denounced the execution of the Remonstrant leader Johan van Oldenbarnevelt in 1619. γet the scene depicted does not fit any episode frorn the Palamedes story. It appears rather to represent three young men appearing before a crowned figure who makes a pronouncement, probably one of magnanimity or clemency. It is conceivable that the subject was taken from Q. Curtius Rufus's Historiae Alexandri Magni Macedonis, ofwhich several editions, including translations into the vernacular, were published in Holland in the first decades of the 17th century. The episode in question was known to the young Rubens, but does not seem to have been illustrated by any other artist. At the beginning of the seventh book it is described how Alexander summoned before. him in the presence of the army two oj three brothers, who had been close friends of Philotas, a former, friend of his who had been executed for plotting against his life. The youngest brother, Poleinon, had panicked and fled but was caught and brought back at the very moment when Alexander had accused the brothers and the eldest, Amyntas, after having been released from his bonds and given a spear which he held in his left hand, had embarked on his szzccess ful defence. The appearance of Polemon infuriated the soldiers, but when he took the blame on himself and prrifessed his brothers' innocence, they were moved to tears. So too was Alexander who, prompted by their cries, absolved the brothers. This anecdote does at least explain some of the features of Rembrandt's scene. The young man standing on the right with his right hand raised as if swearing an oath would be the eloquent Amyntas with a spear in his left hand. Hidden behind him kneels the second brother, Simias, while Polemon, 'a young man just come to maturity and in the first bloom of his youth', has fallen on one knee in the foreground, underlining his emotional words with his right hand bressed to his heart. Alexander raises his sceptre in token of his absolution and some men in the background wave and shout from a socle they have climbed. Interpreted in this way, the scene coralains not a topical political allegory but, as would seem usual with history paintings, a message of a more general nature: the magnanimity of Alexander as an 'exemblum virtutis'.

scholarly journals Refinements of the Lower Bounds of the Jensen Functional

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Franjić ◽  
Sadia Khalid ◽  
Josip Pečarić
Keyword(s):  
Lower Bounds ◽  
Jensen Inequality ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
Jensen Functional ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Right

The lower bounds of the functional defined as the difference of the right-hand and the left-hand side of the Jensen inequality are studied. Refinements of some previously known results are given by applying results from the theory of majorization. Furthermore, some interesting special cases are considered.

Interosseous Muscle Pain in the Pianist's Hand: A Description of 27 Cases of Musician's Hand

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-25
Author(s):  
Naotaka Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Weakness ◽  
Muscle Pain ◽  
Deep Part ◽  
Piano Performance ◽  
Medical Problems ◽  
Main Symptom ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Dorsal Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
The Right

Among 703 professional pianists with medical problems in their hands seen by the author between 1981 and 2000, there were 27 patients who had interosseous muscle pain (23 women, 4 men; mean age, 30 yrs). The main symptom was dorsal hand pain during piano performance, especially when striking the keys with each finger rounded, mainly in the scale technique. Tenderness was noted in the deep part of the dorsal hand in the interosseous muscles, but not along or around the finger extensors. Patients sometimes complained of muscle weakness on abduction of the index, ring, and/or little fingers when performing octaves or chords on the piano keyboard. Resisted abduction and adduction testing of the fingers reproduced the pain which they experienced during or after performance. Pain occurred in the right hand in 10, left hand in 5, and bilaterally in 12. The pain was localized in the 4th and 5th interossei in 15 patients, in the 3rd and 4th in 14 patients; in the 2nd and 3rd in 11 patients; and in the 1st and 2nd in 1 patient.

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