Second to fourth digit ratio and male ability in sport: implications for sexual selection in humans

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Abstract

Fetal and adult testosterone may be important in establishing and maintaining sex-dependent abilities associated with male physical competitiveness. There is evidence that the ratio of the length of the 2nd and 4th digits (2D:4D) is a negative correlate of prenatal and adult testosterone. We use ability in sports, and particularly ability in football, as a proxy for male physical competitiveness. Compared to males with high 2D:4D ratio, men with low ratio reported higher attainment in a range of sports and had higher mental rotation scores (a measure of visual–spatial ability). Professional football players had lower 2D:4D ratios than controls. Football players in 1st team squads had lower 2D:4D than reserves or youth team players. Men who had represented their country had lower ratios than those who had not, and there was a significant (one-tailed) negative association between 2D:4D and number of international appearances after the effect of country was removed. We suggest that prenatal and adult testosterone promotes the development and maintenance of traits which are useful in sports and athletics disciplines and in male:male fighting.

Section snippets

Study I

The participants were 128 men recruited from libraries and sports centres. Many were university students. Participants who reported injuries to their 2nd and/or 4th digits were excluded from the study. The length of the right and left 2nd and 4th digits was measured from the crease proximal to the palm to the tip of the digit. Vernier callipers, measuring to 0.01 mm, were used. The 2nd and 4th digits from 50 hands and 50 subjects were measured twice.

Subjects ranked their competitive level in

Study I

The repeatability of the 2D:4D ratio was high (r1=.93) and the differences between subjects greater than the measurement error (repeated measures ANOVA, F=29.96, P=.0001). We therefore concluded that our measurements reflected real between-subject differences in 2D:4D ratio.

The participants practiced seven sports (running 45% of the sample, football 14%, martial arts 10%, rugby 8%, tennis or squash 8%, swimming 7% and hockey 5%), while there were three subjects (2%) who practiced no sport.

Discussion

We have found that low 2D:4D ratio is associated with a high level of attainment across a number of sports and also with high mental rotation scores. Professional football players had lower 2D:4D ratios than controls; 1st team players had lower ratios than youth team members or reserves; international players had lower 2D:4D ratios than those who have not yet represented their Country; and in a one-tailed test, 2D:4D ratio was negatively related to number of international appearances after the

Acknowledgements

For permission to measure, we thank the Football Clubs and The Football League. Thanks also to our participants who generously gave their time.

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