 News
23rd May 2007
Children's fingers predict maths and English abilities
Parents can predict their children's performance in maths and English
simply by looking at their hands, according to research.
Scientists from the University of Bath found that literacy and numeracy
skills are linked to the length of a child's fingers.
Children with shorter ring fingers had better math skills, while those
with longer ring fingers did better at English.
Mark Brosnan, who led the study, said it is all to do with the amount
of testosterone and oestrogen that children are exposed to in the womb.
"Testosterone has been argued to promote development of the areas of
the brain which are often associated with spatial and mathematical skills,"
he said.
"Oestrogen is thought to do the same in the areas of the brain which
are often associated with verbal ability.
"Interestingly, these hormones are also thought to have a say in the
relative lengths of our index and ring fingers. We can use measurements
of these fingers as a way of gauging the relative exposure to these two
hormones in the womb.
"And, as we have shown through this study, we can also use them to predict
ability in the key areas of numeracy and literacy."
The scientists looked at the hands of 75 seven year olds and measured
their index fingers and ring fingers. They then divided the lengths of
the index finger by ring finger to get a digit ratio.
Adult women have a digit ratio of one as both these fingers tend to be
the same size.
Adult men have a lower ratio as their ring fingers tend to be longer
due to the levels of testosterone they were subjected to when in the womb.
The researchers then studied key stage test results and found that those
children with longer ring fingers and therefore a smaller digit ratio,
did better at maths than in English.
On balance, those childen with a higher digit ratio and therefore shorter
ring fingers did much better at English.
Will your child excel at English or Maths?
- Measure your child's index finger
- Measure his ring finger
- Divide the length of his index finger by the length of his ring finger
to get the digit ratio
- Long ring finger and short index finger means he will probably be
better at maths.
- Short ring finger and long index finger means he will probably be
better at English
Where to next?
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