Prostate Restored
Photo by RODNAE Productions Pexels Logo Photo: RODNAE Productions

Can you tell how much testosterone you have by your hand?

Short index finger, more testosterone An index finger that is relatively short compared to the ring finger indicates that one has been exposed to a lot of testosterone in utero, whereas a relatively long index finger suggests a lower exposure to testosterone in the womb.

What foods beat gout?
What foods beat gout?

Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which provide complex carbohydrates. Avoid foods and beverages with high-fructose corn syrup, and...

Read More »
What vitamins help with weight loss?
What vitamins help with weight loss?

Vitamins B, D, iron, and magnesium are four well-known weight reduction vitamins. Vitamin B helps the body to convert food into energy. It also...

Read More »

By comparing your index and ring fingers, a neuroscientist can tell if you are likely to be anxious, or if you are likely to be a good athlete. It is well-known that adults whose index finger is shorter than their ring finger were exposed to greater amounts of testosterone when they were in the womb. Both women and men with this characteristic are -- on average -- better equipped to solve mentally demanding 3D rotation tasks as adults. As a group, they also have better physical and athletic abilities, but are more prone to having ADHD and Tourette's syndrome. Why on earth is this the case? Both boys and girls are exposed to testosterone in the womb. Everyone has different levels of male and female sex hormones. Some men have a lot of testosterone, some have less, and the same applies to women. Women who have received a lot of prenatal testosterone don't need much testosterone as adults. The level of testosterone in utero affects one's finger length as an adult.

24 women and a drop of testosterone

advertisement

In his doctoral dissertation at NTNU, Pintzka investigated how the brain functions differently in women and men. As part of this study, he tested an established theory about the significance of finger length and how the brain works. He measured the finger length of 42 women and gave half of them a drop of testosterone. The other half were given a placebo. Afterwards, the women had to solve various mental tasks.

Short index finger, more testosterone

An index finger that is relatively short compared to the ring finger indicates that one has been exposed to a lot of testosterone in utero, whereas a relatively long index finger suggests a lower exposure to testosterone in the womb.

advertisement

"One mechanism behind this relationship is the difference in the receptor density for oestrogen and testosterone in the various fingers in utero. This relationship has also been shown to remain relatively stable after birth, which implies that it's strictly the fetal hormone balance that determines this ratio," says Pintzka.

More testosterone, better sense of place

How do you stay 100% healthy?
How do you stay 100% healthy?

Hit a century in style with our top tips. Eat well. As we get older our metabolism slows down, and we need more of some foods but less of others....

Read More »
What makes sperm stronger?
What makes sperm stronger?

Some research suggests that increasing body mass index (BMI) is linked with decreasing sperm count and sperm movement. Eat a healthy diet. Choose...

Read More »

The relationship between the index finger and ring finger in humans is associated with a variety of abilities in adulthood. "The greatest effect has been found for various physical and athletic measures, where high levels of prenatal testosterone are consistently linked with better capabilities," Pintzka says. "Beyond this we find a number of uncertain results, but a general feature is that high levels of testosterone generally correlate with superior abilities on tasks that men usually perform better, such as various spatial tasks like directional sense," he adds. Conversely, low levels of testosterone are associated with better abilities in verbal memory tasks, such as remembering lists of words. Fetal hormonal balance also likely affects the risk of developing various brain-related diseases. Pintzka says studies show that high levels of testosterone in utero correlate with an increased risk of developing diseases that are more common in men, such as ADHD, Tourette's and autism. Low levels of testosterone are associated with an increased risk of developing diseases that are more common in women, like anxiety and depression. His study primarily involved researching how testosterone affects different spatial abilities in women. The women were asked to navigate a virtual maze, and to mentally rotate different three-dimensional objects. More study needed According to Pintzka, the study results indicate a trend towards a positive effect of high testosterone levels on spatial abilities in utero. He believes that a larger study would be able to show a significant correlation. Furthermore, the results suggest that these hormone levels are important both in utero and in adulthood. In other words, no definite conclusions can be drawn quite yet. Pintzka found no prenatal hormonal effects on study participants' ability to navigate a virtual maze. "The women who scored best on the mental rotation tasks had high levels of testosterone both prenatally and in their adult lives, while those who scored worst had low levels in both," says Pintzka.

What supplements reduce prostate inflammation?
What supplements reduce prostate inflammation?

These supplements may help: Cernilton. An extract made from rye grass pollen. ... Quercetin. An antioxidant that helps fight inflammation. ... Beta...

Read More »
Why do men look better with age?
Why do men look better with age?

The reason is because of male androgen secretions. Before the age of 50, testosterone causes increased oil production. As a result, men's skin may...

Read More »
Which exercise is best for testosterone?
Which exercise is best for testosterone?

Resistance training like weightlifting is the best type of exercise to boost testosterone in both the short and long term. It's been found to be...

Read More »
Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!
Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!

Fluxactive Complete is conveniently packed with over 14 essential prostate powerhouse herbs, vitamins and grade A nutrients which work synergistically to help you support a healthy prostate faster

Learn More »
Why do you feel no pain under anesthesia?
Why do you feel no pain under anesthesia?

To make sure we don't feel the pain during a surgery or procedure, an anesthesiologist uses analgesics or local anesthetics to block the signal...

Read More »