2D:4D digit ratio predicts delay of gratification in preschoolers

PLoS One. 2014 Dec 9;9(12):e114394. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114394. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

We replicate the Stanford marshmallow experiment with a sample of 141 preschoolers and find a correlation between lack of self-control and 2D:4D digit ratio. Children with low 2D:4D digit ratio are less likely to delay gratification. Low 2D:4D digit ratio may indicate high fetal testosterone. If this hypothesis is true, our finding means high fetal testosterone children are less likely to delay gratification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Delay Discounting*
  • Female
  • Fetus / metabolism
  • Fingers / anatomy & histology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Testosterone / metabolism

Substances

  • Testosterone

Grants and funding

This work was supported by: BM: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil) PhD scholarship, www.capes.gov.br. NDCJ: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil), www.cnpq.br. Grant Number: 304342/2009-2. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.