Advertisement

Anthropometric Digit Ratio 2D:4D and Athletic Performance

Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

2D:4D (the length of the second finger divided by the length of the fourth finger) appears to be a marker of prenatal testosterone levels, with lower 2D:4D indicating higher prenatal testosterone. 2D:4D has become a prominent tool for studying potential effects of prenatal testosterone on human development and behavior. Athletic performance is positively affected by circulating testosterone ­levels; similarly, prenatal testosterone may have a positive effect on athletic performance. In order to investigate this possibility, I here review studies on the relationship between 2D:4D and athletic ­performance. In line with expectations, most studies found a negative relationship between 2D:4D and various measures of athletic performance in either sex. There is some evidence that 2D:4D shows stronger relationships with measures of endurance than with measures of strength. This suggests that prenatal testosterone promotes some components of physical fitness more than others.

Keywords

Physical Fitness Athletic Performance Digit Ratio Androgenic Steroid Prenatal Androgenisation 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Bescos R, Esteve M, Porta J, Mateu M, Irurtia A, Voracek M. Prenatal programming of sporting success: Associations of digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen action, with world rankings in female fencers. J Sports Sci. 2009;27:625–32.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Blair SN, Kohl HW, Paffenbarger RS, Clark DG, Cooper KH, Gibbons LW. Physical fitness and all-cause mortality. JAMA. 1989;262:2395–401.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bouchard C, Shepard RJ, Stephens T. Physical activity, fitness, and health: International proceedings and consensus statement. Champaign, IL.: Human Kinetics Publishers; 1994.Google Scholar
  4. Cohen J. The earth is round (p <.05). Am Psychol. 1994;49:997–1003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Cohen-Bendahan CCC, van de Beek C, Berenbaum SA. Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: Methods and findings. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2005;29:353–84.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. de Bruin EI, Verheij F, Wiegman T, Ferdinand RF. Differences in finger length ratio between males with autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, adhd, and anxiety disorders. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006;48:962–5.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Fink B, Manning JT, Neave N. The 2nd–4th digit ratio (2D:4D) and neck circumference: Implications for risk factors in coronary heart disease. Int J Obes. 2006;30:711–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Fink B, Thanzami V, Seydel H, Manning JT. Digit ratio and hand-grip strength in German and Mizos men: Cross-cultural evidence for an organizing effect of prenatal testosterone on strength. Am J Human Biol. 2006;18:776–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Gaulin SJC, Boster JS. Human marriage systems and sexual dimorphism in stature. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1992;89:467–75.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Hartgens F, Kuipers H. Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Sports Med. 2004;34:513–54.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Helgerud J, Engen LC, Wisloff U, Hoff J. Aerobic endurance training improves soccer performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33:1925–31.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Hönekopp J, Manning JT, Müller C. Digit ratio (2D:4D) and physical fitness in males and females: Evidence for effects of prenatal androgens on sexually selected traits. Hormon Behav. 2006;49:545–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Hönekopp J, Schuster M. A meta-analysis on 2D:4D and athletic prowess: Substantial relationships but neither hand out-predicts the other. Person Individ Diff. 2010;48:4–10.Google Scholar
  14. Keeley LH. War before civilization. The myth of the peaceful savage. New York: Oxford University Press; 1996.Google Scholar
  15. Latourelle SM. Finger forecasting: A pointer to athletic prowess in women. A preliminary investigation by an undergraduate biology class. Am. Biol Teacher. 2008;70:411–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Manning JT. Digit ratio. A pointer to fertility, behavior, and health. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press; 2002a.Google Scholar
  17. Manning JT. The ratio of 2nd to 4th digit length and performance in skiing. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2002b;42:446–50.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  18. Manning JT, Baron-Cohen S, Wheelwright S, Sanders G. The 2nd to 4th digit ratio and autism. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2001;43:160–4.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  19. Manning JT, Bundred PE. The ratio of second to fourth digit length and age at first myocardial infarction in men: A link with testosterone? Brit J Cardiol. 2001;8:720–3.Google Scholar
  20. Manning JT, Bundred PE, Taylor R. The ratio of 2nd and 4th digit length: A prenatal correlate of ability in sport. In Reilly T, Marfell-Jones M, editors, Kinanthropometry, vol. VIII. London, U.K.: Routledge 2006;. p. 165–174.Google Scholar
  21. Manning JT, Hill MR. Digit ratio (2D:4D) and sprinting speed in boys. Am J Human Biol. 2009;21:210–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Manning JT, Morris L, Caswell N. Endurance running and digit ratio (2D:4D): Implications for fetal testosterone effects on running speed and vascular health. Am J Human Biol. 2007;19:416–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Miller G. The mating mind. How sexual choice shaped the evolution of human nature. New York: Anchor Books 2000;Google Scholar
  24. Palmer AR. Quasireplication and the contract of error: Lessons from sex ratios, heritabilities and fluctuating asymmetry. Annu Rev Ecol Systemat. 2000;31:441–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Paul SN, Kato BS, Hunkin JL, Vivekanandan S, Spector TD. The big finger: The second to fourth digit ratio is a predictor of sporting ability in women. Brit J Sports Med. 2006;40:981–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Pheasant ST. Sex differences in strength – Some observations on their variability. Appl Ergonom. 1983;14:205–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Pokrywka L, Rachon D, Suchecka-Rachon K, Bitel L. The second to fourth digit ratio in elite and non-elite female athletes. Am J Human Biol. 2005;17:796–800.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Puts DA, McDaniel MA, Jordan CL, Breedlove SM. Spatial ability and prenatal androgens: Meta-analyses of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and digit ratio (2D:4D) studies. Arch Sex Behav. 2008;37:100–11.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Putz DA, Gaulin SJC, Sporter RJ, McBurney DH. Sex hormones and finger length. What does 2D:4D indicate? Evol Human Behav. 2004;25:182–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Stevenson JC, Everson PM, Williams DC, Hipskind G, Grimes M, Mahoney ER. Attention deficit/hyperactivity ­disorder (adhd) symptoms and digit ratios in a college sample. Am J Human Biol. 2007;19:41–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Tester N, Campbell A. Sporting achievement: What is the contribution of digit ratio? J Person. 2007;75:663–77.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Thomas JR, French KE. Gender differences across age in motor performance: A meta-analysis. Psychol Bull. 1985;98:260–82.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Tlauka M, Williams J, Williamson P. Spatial ability in secondary school students: Intra-sex differences based on self-selection for physical education. Brit J Psychol. 2008;99:427–40.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. van Anders SM. Grip strength and digit ratios are not correlated in women. Am J Human Biol. 2007;19:437–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. Voracek M, Loibl LM. Scientometric analysis and bibliography of digit ratio (2D:4D) research, 1998–2008. Psychol Rep. 2009;104:922–56.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Voracek M, Reimer B, Ertl C, Dressler SG. Digit ratio (2d:4d), lateral preferences, and performance in fencing. Percept Mot Skills. 2006;103:427–46.PubMedGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychologyNorthumbria UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options