Finger Length Can Predict SAT Scores

According to a news article on LiveScience.com, new research has confirmed that certain intelligence aspects can be determined by the length of the ring finger as compared to the index finger. LiveScience reports that this information can also determine which areas of the SAT exam a student will score the best and how well a student will score on the SAT.

The SAT exams are conducted by the College Board. SAT stands for Scholastic Assessment Test. The test is taken by thousands of high school students each year. The SAT is a very important test for a student's future college career. Colleges place important emphasis on SAT scores when deciding whether to accept a student. SAT scores are also considered when choosing students for scholarships.

LiveScience.com reports that the research into the relationship of finger length to specialized areas of the brain was conducted by the University of Bath. Psychologist Mark Brosnan headed the research.

Experts had already discovered that people's finger lengths differ because of varying levels of exposure to the hormones estrogen and testosterone while still in the womb. The areas of the developing baby's brain that become more specialized depends upon which hormone is dominant during the pregnancy.

If a baby is exposed to testosterone during pregnancy, the area of the brain that is associated with mathematical and spatial skills becomes more developed. Exposure to estrogen in the womb causes the baby's brain to develop more specialized verbal skills. If a baby is exposed to testosterone in the womb, the ring finger will become longer than the index finger. Exposure to estrogen will cause the index finger to grow longer than the ring finger.

Brosnan tested the theory by linking test scores on the SAT to the length of children's index and ring fingers. Each participant in the study had their palms photocopied and their index and ring fingers measured. The finger lengths were measured in increments up to .01 millimeters. Male and female test scores were also looked at separately, also by comparing the ratio of the length of the index and ring fingers.