TY - JOUR
T1 - Masculinized Finger-Length Ratios of Boys, but Not Girls, Are Associated With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
AU - Martel, Michelle M.
AU - Gobrogge, Kyle L.
AU - Breedlove, S. Marc
AU - Nigg, Joel T.
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - Gonadal hormones may exert permanent organizational effects on sexually dimorphic finger-length ratios and sexually dimorphic behavior expressed in childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study extended recent work examining associations between finger-length ratios (specifically, 2D:4D) and ADHD in a well-characterized, clinically diagnosed, community-recruited sample of boys and girls. A multistage, diagnostic procedure was utilized to identify 113 children with ADHD and 137 non-ADHD comparison children. Right-hand digit ratios showed significant mean differences by gender, as well as associations with ADHD diagnosis. Boys with ADHD had more masculinized digit ratios than control-group boys. More masculine right 2D:4D and 3D:4D ratios were correlated with parent- and teacher-rated inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in boys but not in girls. Masculinized finger-length ratios were associated with hyperactive-impulsive and oppositional-defiant symptoms, but associations were largest with symptoms of inattention. It is concluded that prenatal, organizational effects of gonadal hormones may play a role in the development of ADHD and contribute to explaining sex differences in the prevalence rates of this childhood disorder.
AB - Gonadal hormones may exert permanent organizational effects on sexually dimorphic finger-length ratios and sexually dimorphic behavior expressed in childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study extended recent work examining associations between finger-length ratios (specifically, 2D:4D) and ADHD in a well-characterized, clinically diagnosed, community-recruited sample of boys and girls. A multistage, diagnostic procedure was utilized to identify 113 children with ADHD and 137 non-ADHD comparison children. Right-hand digit ratios showed significant mean differences by gender, as well as associations with ADHD diagnosis. Boys with ADHD had more masculinized digit ratios than control-group boys. More masculine right 2D:4D and 3D:4D ratios were correlated with parent- and teacher-rated inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in boys but not in girls. Masculinized finger-length ratios were associated with hyperactive-impulsive and oppositional-defiant symptoms, but associations were largest with symptoms of inattention. It is concluded that prenatal, organizational effects of gonadal hormones may play a role in the development of ADHD and contribute to explaining sex differences in the prevalence rates of this childhood disorder.
KW - 2D:4D
KW - ADHD
KW - finger-length ratio
KW - sex differences
KW - testosterone
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U2 - 10.1037/0735-7044.122.2.273
DO - 10.1037/0735-7044.122.2.273
M3 - Article
C2 - 18410167
AN - SCOPUS:43449124396
SN - 0735-7044
VL - 122
SP - 273
EP - 281
JO - Behavioral Neuroscience
JF - Behavioral Neuroscience
IS - 2
ER -