Can exposure to prenatal sex hormones (2D:4D) predict cognitive reflection?
The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) is a test introduced by Frederick (2005). The task is designed to measure the tendency to override an intuitive response that is incorrect and to engage in further reflection that leads to the correct response. The consistent sex differences in CRT performance may suggest a role for prenatal sex hormones. A now widely studied putative marker for relative prenatal testosterone is the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D). This paper tests to what extent 2D:4D, as a proxy for the prenatal ratio of testosterone/estrogens, can predict CRT scores in a sample of 623 students. After controlling for sex, we observe that a lower 2D:4D (reflecting a relative higher exposure to testosterone) is significantly associated with a higher number of correct answers. The result holds for both hands' 2D:4Ds. In addition, the effect appears to be stronger for females than for males. We also control for patience and math proficiency, which are significantly related to performance in the CRT. But the effect of 2D:4D on performance in CRT is not reduced with these controls, implying that these variables are not mediating the relationship between digit ratio and CRT.
Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.
Antoni
A
Bosch-Domènech
Business School, Middlesex University London, NW4 4BT London, UK. Electronic address: branasgarza@gmail.com.
Pablo
P
Brañas-Garza
GLOBE, Departamento de Teoría e Historia Económica, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Antonio M
AM
Espín
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D007839:Functional Laterality; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone
2D:4D; Cognitive Reflection Test; Mathematical proficiency; Patience; Prenatal testosterone; Sex