DIGIT RATIO AS AN INDEX OF NUMERICAL AND VERBAL INTELLIGENCE: A STUDY OF ACADEMIC STAFF IN THE HARDCORE SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA
*Gwunireama I. U. (Ph.D), Ogoun T. R. and Tobia P. S.
ABSTRACT
Digit ratio is regarded as a physiological marker for the prenatal concentration of the sex hormones; testosterone and oestrogen, which organise the architecture of the body and the brain and the distribution of hormone receptors. This study evaluates the anthropometric values of the 2D:4D as an index of numerical and verbal intelligence. A total of 1093 academic staff drawn from all the tertiary institutions in Rivers State was used for this study. 643(58.83%) were males while 450 (41.17%) were females. The subjects were grouped into two: Hardcore science (A) and Humanities (B), according to their departments. The second to fourth digit length on both hands were measured with a digital venier caliper and the ratio calculated by dividing 2D by 4D. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results obtained showed no sexual dimorphism in hardcore science (0.96) and humanities (1.00). A same sex difference was observed in the males across the two groups (A-0.96, B-1.00). The differences were statistically significant (p<0.001). There was evidence of brain lateralization indexed by the pattern of digit ratio. There was no hand lateralization. We found an anthropometric difference in terms of 2D:4D between the Hardcore science group and the Humanities group in a typical masculine ratio associated with participants in the Hardcore science group and high ratio associated with the Humanities group. In conclusion, this study clearly showed that digit ratio can be used to classify numerical and verbal intelligence.
Keywords: Digit ratio, Academic staff and Intelligence.
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