Tektas OY, Kapsner L, Lemmer M, Bouna-Pyrrou P, Lewczuk P, Lenz B, Kornhuber J. Digit ratio (2D:4D) and academic success as measured by achievement in the academic degree "Habilitation".
PLoS One 2019;
14:e0212167. [PMID:
30802262 PMCID:
PMC6388918 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0212167]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Prenatal androgen exposure has important organizing effects on brain development and therefore on future behavior. Previous research has shown, that the ratio between index finger (2D) and ring finger (4D) (2D:4D) could function as a marker of prenatal androgen effects, with a relatively shorter 2D indicating a higher prenatal androgen exposure. 2D:4D is associated with status-seeking and competitive behavior but also with altruism. Therefore, 2D:4D should be related to academic success.
Methods
We examined the 2D:4D of both hands, as well as the difference between both variables (Dr-l), of 209 university graduates (74 women) employed at the Medical Faculty of the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany, and we assessed the relationship of these variables with academic career performance. Career performance was measured by the number of publications as first or last author, and by achievement of an academic degree used in many European countries, the so-called “Habilitation”.
Results
In a within-sex analysis we found a non-monotonic association between the right hand digit ratio and the probability of having a “Habilitation” in females. Academic success, measured by the number of publications as first or last author and the probability of a "Habilitation", increases with age. In agreement with the literature, we found higher academic success in men.
Conclusion
We found a non-monotonic relationship between right hand 2D:4D and academic success in females. However, the significance of this relationship was weak.
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