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Digit ratio (2D:4D) and its behavioral correlates in infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Author(s) -
Paukner Annika
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21917
Subject(s) - digit ratio , aggression , androgen , psychology , developmental psychology , sex ratio , physiology , testosterone (patch) , medicine , population , environmental health , hormone
2D:4D ratios are typically lower in adult human males than females and are linked to numerous sex‐differentiated behaviors. 2D:4D ratios are considered an indicator of prenatal androgen exposure; if so, children's 2D:4D ratios would arguably be even better indicators of prenatal androgen exposure since children have experienced fewer postnatal influences than adults. However, sex differences in 2D:4D ratios as well as associations between 2D:4D ratios and sex‐typed behaviors in children have been inconsistent. Several studies also report sex differences and behavioral correlates of 2D:4D ratios in adult non‐human primates, but little is known about 2D:4D ratios in infant non‐human primates. This study examined sex differences in 2D:4D ratios over the first month of life, and associations with behavioral outcomes at 12–24 weeks of age, in N = 304 infant rhesus macaques. An increase in 2D:4D ratios over the first month of life was found, as well as associations with aggression and play behaviors, but no sex differences in 2D:4D ratios were observed. These results highlight the need for future developmental studies of 2D:4D ratios in order to determine not only their stability and predictive value, but also to discern the mechanism connecting prenatal androgen exposure, 2D:4D ratios, and behavioral outcomes.