Ring Finger Longer Than Index? Peculiar Association Between Relative Lengths And Drinking Identified...Love alcohol? You might have the hands for that.
IFL Science ^ | December 02, 2024 | Rachael Funnell
Posted on 12/10/2024 5:03:56 AM PST by Red Badger
One doesn’t cause the other, but there seems to be an association for some people.
Image credit: logika600 / Shutterstock.com
Anew study has pointed to a strange correlation with a person’s drinking habits: the ratio of their fourth digit (sometimes called the ring finger) to the second digit. Specifically, scientists found a relationship between having a ring finger that is longer than the second digit and high alcohol consumption.
The ratio of our finger lengths is something that’s set before birth, in part influenced by the hormones we are exposed to in the womb. People exposed to more estrogen tend to have second digits longer than their ring fingers, while those exposed to more testosterone can have ring fingers longer than their second digits. There are also people whose ring finger and second digits are the same length.
This latest study looked at 258 student participants – 169 of them female – to see what their finger ratios were and how much alcohol they consumed. The results showed there was a correlation between higher alcohol consumption and longer ring fingers relative to second digits, pointing towards the potential influence of hormones as a contributor to the likelihood of imbibing as a student.
“A pattern like this suggests an involvement of sex hormones, such as testosterone and oestrogen,” said Professor John Manning, of Swansea University’s Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) research team in a statement. “Digit ratio (2D:4D: the relative lengths of the 2nd [index] and 4th [ring] fingers) is thought to be an index of early testosterone (long 4th digit) and oestrogen (long 2nd digit).”
“It is known that alcohol-dependent patients have very long 4th digits relative to their 2nd digits, suggesting high testosterone relative to oestrogen exposure before birth. As expected, the associations were stronger for men than women.”
It’s worth pointing out that the association can’t establish cause and effect, so having a certain finger ratio doesn’t dictate a person’s outcome – but it’s hoped that identifying the connection could shine a light on factors underlying alcohol use.
“Alcohol consumption is a major social and economic problem,” said Manning. “Therefore, it is important to understand why alcohol use shows considerable differences across individuals.”
The study is published in the American Journal Of Human Biology.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajhb.24187
TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Military/Veterans; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 12/10/2024 5:03:56 AM PST by Red Badger
To: Red Badger
And once again I defy the study!
Wahoo!
2 posted on 12/10/2024 5:05:20 AM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
To: mewzilla
Me too.
I guess that’s why I can’t play the piano................
3 posted on 12/10/2024 5:06:16 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Red Badger
So how much guberment (tax payers) money was wasted on this study that proves nothing?
4 posted on 12/10/2024 5:06:44 AM PST by oldasrocks
To: Red Badger
I could.
If I used my feet.
Long toes, stubby fingers.
5 posted on 12/10/2024 5:08:02 AM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
To: Red Badger
Testosterone exposure in womb.
People with longer ring fingers also tend to be better athletes.
And lesbians.
In fact, I am a good athlete and a lesbian trapped in a man’s body.
6 posted on 12/10/2024 5:12:56 AM PST by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
To: oldasrocks
7 posted on 12/10/2024 5:14:00 AM PST by albie (U)
To: TheThirdRuffian
I was always picked last in sports games.
In fact the pickers usually argued over who would be stuck with me............
8 posted on 12/10/2024 5:14:31 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Red Badger
I do enjoy Scotch. Thanks Mom! Ring finger significantly longer btw.
9 posted on 12/10/2024 5:15:11 AM PST by DariusBane (Liberty and Risk. Flip sides of the same coin. So how much risk will YOU accept? Vive Deo et Vives)
To: Red Badger
I’m great at banging chicks, piano and alcohol.
10 posted on 12/10/2024 5:16:55 AM PST by Sirius Lee (Gosh, that's swell!)
To: Red Badger
I’m confused.
On my Right Hand, my ring finger and index finger are the same length.
On my left hand, my ring finger is longer than my index finger.
Does that make me a Left Handed Drinker??
Have I been doing it wrong all these years............
11 posted on 12/10/2024 5:19:13 AM PST by OHPatriot (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
To: Red Badger
I actually hated sports. Was drafted into the NFL, if that tells you something. I opted to go elsewhere.
Literally played to get out of my small NM town and peer pressure. Would rather watch paint dry.
I’ve spent exactly 0 voluntary seconds watching any sport on TV in a decade.
I do value sorts as a teaching tool. You learn to push yourself beyond your limits and to play hurt, which is a transferable skill to life. And how to get along (and even like) morons.
12 posted on 12/10/2024 5:21:22 AM PST by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
To: Red Badger
correlation is not causation.
the article and study are just balderdash
13 posted on 12/10/2024 5:22:13 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
To: Red Badger
“”” People exposed to more estrogen tend to have second digits longer than their ring fingers, while those exposed to more testosterone can have ring fingers longer than their second digits.”””
So if I read this correctly, girly men have index fingers longer than their ring fingers.
To: oldasrocks
“””So how much guberment (tax payers) money was wasted on this study that proves nothing?”””
This study was done in the UK.
However, given Biden’s track record for doing stupid stuff, the study was likely funded by Biden.
To: Red Badger
There is a correlation between the length of the ring finger and testosterone. The longer the ring finger, the higher the testosterone. Which would correlate with risk taking and all other masculine traits.
16 posted on 12/10/2024 5:28:48 AM PST by Jonty30 (Genghis Khan did not have the most descendants. His father had more. )
To: Presbyterian Reporter
Supposedly......................
17 posted on 12/10/2024 5:30:03 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: TheThirdRuffian
18 posted on 12/10/2024 5:31:50 AM PST by AppyPappy (If Hitler were alive today and criticized Trump, would he still be Hitler?)
To: Red Badger
Well that explains everything now. The final question to life fully and comprehensively answered.😃😃😃😃
19 posted on 12/10/2024 5:33:29 AM PST by navymom1 (I voted for President Trump!)
To: Red Badger
>>Anew study has pointed to a strange correlation with a person’s drinking habits
A study of college students... yet, being a college student also has a high correlation to alcohol consumption....
20 posted on 12/10/2024 5:37:58 AM PST by vikingd00d (chown -R us ~you/base)
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