Did you know ? The length of your fingers reflects your state of health! According to a new study conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (in Norway), it is enough to compare the index and the ring finger of a person to know if this one has the sense of direction, a good short-term memory or if she is naturally gifted in sport …
Does that sound crazy to you? Try the experiment: open your right hand widely and measure the length of your index finger, then that of your ring finger (the one which is nicknamed “finger of the ring” by our English-speaking friends since this is where we put the alliance!).
If your index finger is longer than your ring finger, you probably have a very good short term memory – you are able to remember a shopping list, for example. Conversely, if your ring finger is longer than your index finger, you are surely good at sports and you have a sense of direction.
Estrogen or testosterone?
According to the researchers (who published their work in the specialized journal Behavioral Brain Research), it’s all about testosterone. Indeed, the difference in size between the index and ring fingers would depend on the dose of testosterone to which the fetus has been exposed in utero. Thus, during gestation, female hormones (estrogen) promote the lengthening of the index finger, while testosterone (the male hormone par excellence) contributes to the formation of a long ring finger.
To come to this conclusion, the scientists worked with a group of 42 volunteers, men and women of varying ages. They also discovered other correlations, much less amusing: for example, people with a long ring finger would be more likely than others to develop a Tourette’s syndrome, attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity) or autism. People with a long index finger are more concerned with anxiety and depression.
To read :
Unusual: aggressiveness can be read on your fingers
Loyalty: what if the size of your fingers could predict it?
