Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

12-1-2020

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Early Human Development

Source ISSN

0378-3782

Abstract

Background

Prenatal sex hormones may not exclusively determine effects of hand preference on digit ratios. Genetic determination is an alternative possibility.

Aim

To study the likelihood of similar effects of hand preference on digit lengths and digit ratios.

Methods

We selected similar numbers of left-handers and right-handers in samples of kindergarten children (N = 101, age range: 3.5–7 years) and adults (N = 189, age range: 17–28 years) and measured digit lengths (excluding the thumb) directly on the palmar hand.

Results

Compared to right-handers, left-handers had longer digits and lower third-to-fourth (3D:4D) digit ratios among children, whereas an opposite pattern of handedness differences occurred among adults.

Conclusions

Effects of hand preference on digit lengths and ratios might be genetically/ontogenetically determined. Also discussed are implications of this set of findings for digit ratio research.

Comments

Accepted version. Early Human Development, Vol. 151 (December 2020): 105204. DOI. © 2020 Elsevier. Used with permission.

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