Abstract
Lateralization of the brain is strongly influenced by prenatal androgens, with differential exposure thought to account for cognitive sex differences. This study investigated sex and individual differences and relationships between 2D:4D (the ratio of the 2nd to 4th digit [digit ratio] as a proxy indicator of prenatal testosterone exposure), visual-spatial memory, and numerical skills in 5-year-old children. No sex differences were found in any of the numerical or visual-spatial tasks. Visual-spatial memory was positively correlated with arithmetic score. Girls with a lower (more masculinised) 2D:4D had better number sense and visual-spatial skills, whilst boys with lower 20:40 had better arithmetic skills. This suggests that prenatal testosterone exposure may have differential effects on the visual-spatial and numerical skills of girls and boys
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 246-250 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Learning and Individual Differences |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 16 Dec 2009 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2010 |
Keywords
- digit ratio
- 2D:4D
- visual-spatial
- mathematics
- number
- testosterone
- finger-length ratios
- 4th digit ratio
- gender-differences
- sex-differences
- mental rotation
- number sense
- cognitive-ability
- performance
- 2D-4D
- achievement