Prenatal hormone exposure effects brain development
Researchers at Bath University have discovered that having a good grasp of, or an aversion towards, using technology can be predicted by the hormones we are exposed to in the womb.
Prenatal testosterone exposure has been argued to have an effect on the way the brain develops that makes it either easier or more difficult to understand technology.
Researchers in the university’s Department of Psychology found that levels of pre-natal testosterone exposure were higher in computer science students who achieved higher scores in their computer programming assessments.
They measured this by looking at the students’ finger, or digit, ratio - the relative length of the ring finger compared to the index finger - which has been found to indicate levels of pre-natal testosterone exposure.
Computer-science students with a relatively longer ring finger, which indicates higher exposure to prenatal testosterone, obtained higher grades on their university programming course.
The study compared the finger lengths of 150 students who were studying computer science at the university over a number of years, undertaking a range of programming assignments and found a clear link between a student’s grades and the relative lengths of their index and ring fingers on all occasions.
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
Pipebots Transforming Water Pipe Leak Detection and Repair
Fantastic application.