ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A possible hormonal influence in language development has been suggested in the recent years. The 2D:4D finger ratio is an indirect measure for prenatal androgen exposure. It is negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to prenatal estrogen, resulting in a lower ratio for men and a larger ratio for women. It can be explored in children as young as 2 years old. AIM: To study if an association exists between the 2D:4D finger ratio and language development (vocabulary) and/or language problems. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The lengths of the second digit (index finger) (2D) and the fourth digit (ring finger) (4D) were measured in 97 preschoolers and the Language Development Survey was administered to the parents. RESULTS: A weak negative correlation between language development (vocabulary) and right 2D:4D ratio was found in both sexes for children aged 4 or less years, significant only in boys. A strong negative correlation between language articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio in both sexes for children aged 3 or less years, and a lower negative correlation between articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio were found for boys aged 4 or less years. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest an important role for testosterone in language development (vocabulary) and a possible influence on articulation problems, probably through higher testosterone levels.
Subject(s)
Fingers/anatomy & histology , Language Development , Child, Preschool , Estrogens/metabolism , Female , Fingers/embryology , Humans , Infant , Male , Testosterone/metabolismABSTRACT
Introducción. En años recientes, se ha sugerido una posible influencia hormonal en el desarrollo del lenguaje. El índice digital D2:D4 es una medida indirecta de la exposición prenatal a andrógenos. Se relaciona negativamente con la testosterona prenatal y positivamente con el estrógeno prenatal, lo que determina un índice bajo en varones y alto en mujeres. Puede explorarse a partir de los dos años de vida. Objetivo. Estudiar si hay una asociación entre el índice digital D2:D4 y el desarrollo de lenguaje (vocabulario) y/o los problemas del lenguaje. Sujetos y métodos. Se midieron las longitudes del dedo índice (D2) y el dedo anular (D4) en 97 preescolares y sus padres contestaron el sondeo del desarrollo del lenguaje. Resultados. Se encontró una correlación débil negativa entre el desarrollo de lenguaje (vocabulario) y el índice digital derecho D2:D4 en niños de ambos sexos de 4 o menos años de edad, significativa sólo en los varones. Se halló una fuerte correlación negativa entre los problemas de articulación y el índice digital derecho D2:D4 para niños de ambos sexos de 3 o menos años, y una correlación negativa baja entre los problemas de articulación del lenguaje y el índice digital derecho D2:D4 para niños de 4 o menos años. Conclusión. Estos resultados sugieren que la testosterona influye en el desarrollo de lenguaje (vocabulario) y en los problemas de articulación, probablemente a través de dosis mayores (AU)
Introduction. A possible hormonal influence in language development has been suggested in the recent years. The 2D:4D finger ratio is an indirect measure for prenatal androgen exposure. It is negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to prenatal estrogen, resulting in a lower ratio for men and a larger ratio for women. It can be explored in children as young as 2 years old. Aim. To study if an association exists between the 2D:4D finger ratio and language development (vocabulary) and/or language problems. Subjects and methods. The lengths of the second digit (index finger) (2D) and the fourth digit (ring finger) (4D) were measured in 97 preschoolers and the Language Development Survey was administered to the parents. Results. A weak negative correlation between language development (vocabulary) and right 2D:4D ratio was found in both sexes for children aged 4 or less years, significant only in boys. A strong negative correlation between language articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio in both sexes for children aged 3 or less years, and a lower negative correlation between articulation problems and right 2D:4D ratio were found for boys aged 4 or less years. Conclusion. Findings suggest an important role for testosterone in language development (vocabulary) and a possible influence on articulation problems, probably through higher testosterone levels (AU)
