title: Is digit ratio (2D:4D) a reliable pointer to speech laterality?
abstract: The relative length of the second and fourth digits (2D:4D ratio) is sexually dimorphic and a retrospective biomarker of prenatal hormonal exposure. Low ratios indicate higher prenatal testosterone (pT) and lower estrogen exposure, whereas the reverse pattern is associated with high ratios. Elevated levels of pT exposure have long been thought to modulate hemispheric specialisation; subsequently many studies use the 2D:4D ratio as a proxy index for pT to examine the effects of prenatal hormonal exposure on lateralised cognitive abilities. Here we used Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and digit ratio to investigate whether pT has an influence on speech laterality. We tested 34 right and 14 left handed adults. Our results indicate that speech representation is unrelated to digit characteristics and therefore purportedly pT. We discuss these findings in relation to androgen theories of lateralisation.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jhudson@lincoln.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jessica C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone
keywords: 2D:4D; Callosal theory; Digit ratio; Functional Transcranial Doppler; GBG theory; Language lateralisation; Prenatal testosterone