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Lenz B, Gerhardt S, Boroumand-Jazi R, Eichler A, Buchholz VN, Fasching PA, Kornhuber J, Banaschewski T, Flor H, Guldner S, Prignitz M, Nees F. Sex-specific association between prenatal androgenization (second-to-fourth digit length ratio) and frontal brain volumes in adolescents. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:1243-1254. [PMID: 36449103 PMCID: PMC10449726 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01515-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal androgenization associates sex-dependently with behavior and mental health in adolescence and adulthood, including risk-taking, emotionality, substance use, and depression. However, still little is known on how it affects underlying neural correlates, like frontal brain control regions. Thus, we tested whether prenatal androgen load is sex-dependently related to frontal cortex volumes in a sex-balanced adolescent sample. In a cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging study, we examined 61 adolescents (28 males, 33 females; aged 14 or 16 years) and analyzed associations of frontal brain region volumes with the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D), an established marker for prenatal androgenization, using voxel-based morphometry in a region-of-interest approach. Lower 2D:4D (indicative of higher prenatal androgen load) correlated significantly with smaller volumes of the right anterior cingulate cortex (r-ACC; β = 0.45) in male adolescents and with larger volumes of the left inferior frontal gyrus orbital part (l-IFGorb; β = - 0.38) in female adolescents. The regression slopes of 2D:4D on the r-ACC also differed significantly between males and females. The study provides novel evidence that prenatal androgenization may influence the development of the frontal brain in a sex- and frontal brain region-specific manner. These effects might contribute to the well-known sex differences in risk-taking, emotionality, substance use, and depression. Future research is needed to elucidate the role of prenatal androgenization within the biopsychosocial model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Lenz
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Sarah Gerhardt
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Rafat Boroumand-Jazi
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anna Eichler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Verena Nadine Buchholz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stella Guldner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Maren Prignitz
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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Wang Y, Zhou Y, Rao LL, Zheng R, Liang ZY, Chen XP, Tan C, Tian ZQ, Wang CH, Bai YQ, Chen SG, Li S. Effect of 45-Day −6° Head-Down Bed Rest on Cooperation and Aggression. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Li-Lin Rao
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Rui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Zhu-Yuan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
| | - Xiao-Ping Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering; China Astronaut Research and Training Center; Beijing China
| | - Cheng Tan
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering; China Astronaut Research and Training Center; Beijing China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Tian
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering; China Astronaut Research and Training Center; Beijing China
| | - Chun-Hui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering; China Astronaut Research and Training Center; Beijing China
| | - Yan-Qiang Bai
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering; China Astronaut Research and Training Center; Beijing China
| | - Shan-Guang Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering; China Astronaut Research and Training Center; Beijing China
| | - Shu Li
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing China
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Romero-Martínez A, Lila M, Moya-Albiol L. The 2D:4D Ratio as a Predictor of the Risk of Recidivism after Court-mandated Intervention Program for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators. J Forensic Sci 2016; 62:705-709. [PMID: 27907235 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Differences in aggressive behavior could be partially explained by differential prenatal exposure to testosterone (T). A peripheral marker of prenatal T exposure is the 2D:4D ratio, which has shown a negative correlation with self-reported aggression in violent men. This study tested the direct association of the 2D:4D ratio with anger expression and the risk of recidivism in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators after psychotherapeutic intervention program. The sample consisted of IPV perpetrators, whose 2D:4D ratio was measured before the intervention. Moreover, after the intervention, anger expression and risk of recidivism in IPV were assessed. Smaller 2D:4D ratio, especially of the right hand, was related to higher anger expression and risk of recidivism in IPV perpetrators. The contribution of this prenatal marker together with other psychobiological variables could play a key role in the propensity to react aggressively when coping with environmental demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Romero-Martínez
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Marisol Lila
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Luis Moya-Albiol
- Department of Psychobiology, University of Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibáñez, 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
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Gorka AX, Norman RE, Radtke SR, Carré JM, Hariri AR. Anterior cingulate cortex gray matter volume mediates an association between 2D:4D ratio and trait aggression in women but not men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 56:148-56. [PMID: 25827959 PMCID: PMC4410779 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Previous research demonstrates that prenatal testosterone exposure increases aggression, possibly through its effects on the structure and function of neural circuits supporting threat detection and emotion regulation. Here we examined associations between regional gray matter volume, trait aggression, and the ratio of the second and fourth digit of the hand (2D:4D ratio) as a putative index of prenatal testosterone exposure in 464 healthy young adult volunteers. Our analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between 2D:4D ratio and gray matter volume of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), a brain region supporting emotion regulation, conflict monitoring, and behavioral inhibition. Subsequent analyses demonstrated that reduced (i.e., masculinized) gray matter volume in the dACC mediated the relationship between 2D:4D ratio and aggression in women, but not men. Expanding on this gender-specific mediation, additional analyses demonstrated that the shared variance between 2D:4D ratio, dACC gray matter volume, and aggression in women reflected the tendency to engage in cognitive reappraisal of emotionally provocative stimuli. Our results provide novel evidence that 2D:4D ratio is associated with masculinization of dACC gray matter volume, and that this neural phenotype mediates, in part, the expression of trait aggression in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam X. Gorka
- Laboratory of NeuroGenetics, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA,Corresponding author: Adam X. Gorka
| | - Rachel E. Norman
- Laboratory of Social Neuroendocrinology, Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, P1B8L7, Canada
| | - Spenser R. Radtke
- Laboratory of NeuroGenetics, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Justin M. Carré
- Laboratory of Social Neuroendocrinology, Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, P1B8L7, Canada
| | - Ahmad R. Hariri
- Laboratory of NeuroGenetics, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
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Brugman S, Lobbestael J, Arntz A, Cima M, Schuhmann T, Dambacher F, Sack AT. Identifying cognitive predictors of reactive and proactive aggression. Aggress Behav 2015; 41:51-64. [PMID: 27539874 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify implicit cognitive predictors of aggressive behavior. Specifically, the predictive value of an attentional bias for aggressive stimuli and automatic association of the self and aggression was examined for reactive and proactive aggressive behavior in a non-clinical sample (N = 90). An Emotional Stroop Task was used to measure an attentional bias. With an idiographic Single-Target Implicit Association Test, automatic associations were assessed between words referring to the self (e.g., the participants' name) and words referring to aggression (e.g., fighting). The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) was used to measure reactive and proactive aggressive behavior. Furthermore, self-reported aggressiveness was assessed with the Reactive Proactive Aggression Questionnaire (RPQ). Results showed that heightened attentional interference for aggressive words significantly predicted more reactive aggression, while lower attentional bias towards aggressive words predicted higher levels of proactive aggression. A stronger self-aggression association resulted in more proactive aggression, but not reactive aggression. Self-reports on aggression did not additionally predict behavioral aggression. This implies that the cognitive tests employed in our study have the potential to discriminate between reactive and proactive aggression. Aggr. Behav. 41:51-64 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Brugman
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Jill Lobbestael
- Department of Clinical Psychological Science; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Arnoud Arntz
- Department of Clinical Psychology; Department of Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Maaike Cima
- Department of Research; Forensic Psychiatric Centre de Rooyse Wissel; The Netherlands
- Department of Developmental Psychology; Radboud University; Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Teresa Schuhmann
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
- Maastricht Brain Imaging Center; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Franziska Dambacher
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
- Maastricht Brain Imaging Center; Maastricht The Netherlands
| | - Alexander T. Sack
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience; Maastricht University; Maastricht The Netherlands
- Maastricht Brain Imaging Center; Maastricht The Netherlands
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Palmer-Hague JL, Zilioli S, Watson NV. Predictions for Sex of First Born Child Reflect Masculine and Feminine Characteristics in Male and Female Undergraduates. Evol Psychol 2013. [DOI: 10.1177/147470491301100408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has identified physical and behavioral differences between parents who produce sons and those who produce daughters. However, the possibility that men and women have predictions about the sexes of their offspring based on these differences, or any other interoceptive cues, has not been investigated. We compared the dominance, sociosexual orientation, estradiol, testosterone, and 2D:4D ratios of men and women who predicted they would conceive a boy as their first child with those who predicted a girl. Women who predicted they would have a boy were more dominant and less sociosexually restricted than those who predicted they would have a girl. Men who predicted they would have a girl had higher salivary estradiol and higher (more feminine) 2D:4D ratios than those who predicted they would have a boy. Possible implications of these results are discussed in the context of evolutionary theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada
| | - Neil V. Watson
- Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, Canada
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Neurophysiological correlates of laboratory-induced aggression in young men with and without a history of violence. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22599. [PMID: 21811638 PMCID: PMC3141059 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 07/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to further understand the mechanisms involved in planning an aggressive act, we conducted an event-related potential (ERP) study of young men with and without a history of violence. Participants completed a competitive reaction time task (based on the Taylor aggression paradigm) against a virtual opponent. In "passive" blocks, participants were punished by the opponent when losing the trial but could not punish, when winning, whereas in "active" blocks, participants were able to punish the opponent when winning, but were not punished when losing. Participants selected punishment strength in a decision phase prior to each reaction time task and were informed whether they had won or lost in the outcome phase. Additionally, a flanker task was conducted to assess basic performance monitoring. Violent participants selected stronger punishments, especially in "active" blocks. During the decision phase, a frontal P200 was more pronounced for violent participants, whereas non-violent participants showed an enhanced frontal negativity around 300 ms. The P200 might reflect the decision to approach the opponent at a very early state, the latter negativity could reflect inhibition processes, leading to a more considerate reaction in non-violent participants. During the outcome phase, a Feedback-Related Negativity was seen in both groups. This effect was most pronounced when losing entailed a subsequent inability to retaliate. The groups did not differ in the flanker task, indicating intact basic performance monitoring. Our data suggest that the planning of an aggressive act is associated with distinct brain activity and that such activity is differentially represented in violent and non-violent individuals.
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Hönekopp J, Watson S. Meta-analysis of digit ratio 2D:4D shows greater sex difference in the right hand. Am J Hum Biol 2011; 22:619-30. [PMID: 20737609 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.21054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 323] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our aims are, first, to describe the sex difference in the length ratio of the second and fourth digits (2D:4D), which likely reflects prenatal testosterone levels in humans. Second, to infer the loss of reliability observed in 2D:4D based on self-measured finger lengths. METHODS We used random-effects meta-analysis of 2D:4D based on expert-measured finger lengths (116 samples with 13,260 females and 11,789 males). RESULTS We find a moderate sex difference (with lower 2D:4D for males), which shows substantial heterogeneity (which is unrelated to age). The sex difference is moderated by the type of finger length measurement and by hand. Measurement involving the distortion of soft tissue leads to a significantly larger sex difference than finger length measurement avoiding this. The sex difference in 2D:4D is larger in the right hand than in the left. The reliability of self-measured 2D:4D in the BBC internet study, by far the largest study on 2D:4D, is estimated to be 46% of that of expert-measured 2D:4D. CONCLUSIONS Right-hand 2D:4D might be a better indicator of prenatal androgenisation than left-hand 2D:4D. The view that 2D:4D has allometric properties (Kratochvil L, Flegr J. 2009. Differences in 2nd to 4th digit length ratio in humans reflect shifts along the common allometric line. Biol Lett 5:643-646.) is not supported. Bone lengths contribute to the sex difference in 2D:4D. In addition, there might be a sex difference in fingers' soft tissue, which should be investigated. Because of measurement unreliability, correlations between 2D:4D and variables of interest are about one-third smaller in the BBC internet study than in studies in which 2D:4D is based on expert-measured finger lengths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hönekopp
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United Kingdom.
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Hurd PL, Vaillancourt KL, Dinsdale NL. Aggression, digit ratio and variation in androgen receptor and monoamine oxidase a genes in men. Behav Genet 2010; 41:543-56. [PMID: 20967566 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-010-9404-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2010] [Accepted: 10/05/2010] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Variation in prenatal exposure to androgens is thought to be responsible for some of the individual differences in aggressive behavior among adults. A putative indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure, 2D:4D (the index to ring finger length) ratios have shown a weak correlation with aggression. Variation in sensitivity of the androgen receptor, resulting from polymorphism in the AR gene, is also thought to influence the relative expression of sexually dimorphic traits within each sex, including aggressive behavior and 2D:4D. Here we examine variation in aggression, 2D:4D, and polymorphism in the AR and MAO-A genes in a sample of 188 men. We find no evidence of AR gene influence on right hand 2D:4D, and a weak trend towards more feminine-typical left hand 2D:4D in men with more sensitive androgen receptors. Men with more sensitive androgen receptors tended to score lower on many of the subscales of the Aggression Questionnaire and Indirect Aggression Questionnaire. We found no influence of MAO-A allele on either digit ratio or aggressive behavior. We conclude that more masculine-typical 2D:4D does not reflect greater sensitivity to testosterone through variation in this locus on the AR gene, and that AR alleles conferring greater sensitivity to testosterone are associated with lower, not higher propensity to aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L Hurd
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada.
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Moss SA, Wilson S. Integrating the most unintuitive empirical observations of 2007 in the domain of personality and social psychology into a unified framework. NEW IDEAS IN PSYCHOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2009.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Voracek M, Schicker K. Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Behavioral Responses to Everyday Life and Workplace-Related Interpersonal Conflict. SWISS JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2010. [DOI: 10.1024/1421-0185/a000004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Relationships of second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) versus absolute finger length, two putative markers for prenatal vs. pubertal-adolescent testosterone exposure, with specific behavioral responses to interpersonal conflict, as assessed with the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP; Davis, Capobianco, & Kraus, 2004), were examined in an adult community sample of 132 men and women. Paralleling related findings for specific types of aggression (namely, reactive and indirect, i.e., social/relational aggression), results showed analogous sex differences for conflict-related behaviors. Specifically, women scored significantly higher than men on the CDP Hot Buttons component, assessing upset in response to workplace-related conflict elicited by problematic behavior of workmates. Among women (but not men), higher Hot Button scores corresponded significantly to higher prenatal testosterone (indexed by lower 2D:4D). Extending previous evidence for associations between 2D:4D and aggression, this suggests possible contributions of prenatal sex-hormonal masculinization to within-sex individual variation in specific types of conflict-related behavior.
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Hönekopp J, Schuster M. A meta-analysis on 2D:4D and athletic prowess: Substantial relationships but neither hand out-predicts the other. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Lucas M, Koff E. Delay discounting is associated with the 2D:4D ratio in women but not men. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests a link between digit ratio (2D:4D) and personality – albeit with generally small effect sizes. While the identified effects are usually attributed to in utero biochemistry, the bivariate approach favored by researchers in this area does not rule out competing explanations. After first scrutinizing the independence of 2D:4D and overall finger length, we used a multivariate approach to predict the three-dimensional EPQ-R. Given that ring finger length and digit ratio varied conjointly, we introduced a logarithm of residuals model. This new method simultaneously addresses (1) the sensitivity of 2D:4D to measurement error and (2) the high correlations between 2D:4D and finger length. The traditional 2D:4D measure predicted neuroticism but not psychoticism. The logarithm of residuals model was able to identify specific personality effects for ring and index finger residuals. Both neuroticism and psychoticism were related to finger residual measures in a manner consistent with Manning’s in utero biochemistry theory.
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Voracek M, Loibl LM. Scientometric analysis and bibliography of digit ratio (2D:4D) research, 1998-2008. Psychol Rep 2009; 104:922-56. [PMID: 19708418 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.104.3.922-956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A scientometric analysis of modern research on the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D), a widely studied putative marker for prenatal androgen action, is presented. In early 2009, this literature totalled more than 300 publications and, since its initiation in 1998, has grown at a rate slightly faster than linear. Key findings included evidence of publication bias and citation bias, incomplete coverage and outdatedness of existing reviews, and a dearth of meta-analyses in this field. 2D:4D research clusters noticeably in terms of researchers, institutions, countries, and journals involved. Although 2D:4D is an anthropometric trait, most of the research has been conducted at psychology departments, not anthropology departments. However, 2D:4D research has not been predominantly published in core and specialized journals of psychology, but rather in more broadly scoped journals of the behavioral sciences, biomedical social sciences, and neurosciences. Total citation numbers of 2D:4D papers for the most part were not larger than their citation counts within 2D:4D research, indicating that until now, only a few 2D:4D studies have attained broader interest outside this specific field. Comparative citation analyses show that 2D:4D research presently is commensurate in size and importance to evolutionary psychological jealousy research, but has grown faster than the latter field. In contrast, it is much smaller and has spread more slowly than research about the Implicit Association Test Fifteen conjectures about anticipated trends in 2D:4D research are outlined, appendixed by a first-time bibliography of the entirety of the published 2D:4D literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Voracek
- Department of Basic Psychological Research, School of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, Rm 03-46, A-1010 Vienna, Austria.
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Cousins AJ, Fugère MA, Franklin M. Digit ratio (2D:4D), mate guarding, and physical aggression in dating couples. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Schwerdtfeger A, Heer J. Second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) of the right hand is associated with nociception and augmenting-reducing. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2008.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Millet K, Dewitte S. The presence of aggression cues inverts the relation between digit ratio (2D:4D) and prosocial behaviour in a dictator game. Br J Psychol 2008; 100:151-62. [PMID: 18590604 DOI: 10.1348/000712608x324359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait. Men have relatively shorter index (2D) compared to ring (4D) fingers than women. More masculine ratios are thought to be influenced by higher prenatal testosterone levels. In the present paper, we aim to show the context-dependency of the relation between 2D:4D and social behaviour. In two studies, we expose participants either to control or to aggression cues. Afterwards, they make a decision in a dictator game. Participants with low 2D:4D showed higher allocation levels (i.e. they were more prosocial) than participants with high 2D:4D in a neutral situation. However, this relationship inverts after exposure to an aggression cue. It turns out that in high 2D:4D people, aggression cues even increase prosocial behaviour. We call for future research which focuses on other plausible interactions between 2D:4D and context cues rather than on linear relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kobe Millet
- Department of Marketing and Organization Studies, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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