Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026
11:51
Combining Behavioral Endocrinology and Experimental Economics: Testosterone and Social Decision Making
Published on: March 2, 2011
15.7K
No Evidence for a Relationship Between Hair Testosterone Concentrations and 2D:4D Ratio or Risk Taking
Richard Ronay1, Leander van der Meij2, Janneke K Oostrom3
1Department of Leadership and Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
|March 21, 2018
Summary
This study found no direct link between testosterone, 2D:4D ratio, and risk-taking behavior. However, in men, higher testosterone correlated with increased risk-taking only when cortisol levels were low.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Hormonal influences on behavior, particularly testosterone and cortisol, are areas of active research.
- The 2D:4D digit ratio is a proposed marker of prenatal androgen exposure and has been linked to various behaviors.
- Understanding the interplay of hormones and psychological traits like risk-taking and overconfidence is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationships between hair hormone levels (testosterone and cortisol), 2D:4D ratio, overconfidence, and risk-taking behavior.
- To examine the potential interacting effects of testosterone and cortisol on risk-taking, as suggested by the Dual Hormone Hypothesis.
- To explore the divergence between organizing and activating effects of hormones on behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel assay to measure hormone levels from hair samples in 162 participants.
- Collected hand images to calculate 2D:4D ratios.
- Administered questionnaires to assess overconfidence and behavioral risk-taking.
Main Results:
- No significant relationships were found between hair testosterone concentrations, 2D:4D ratios, and risk-taking or overconfidence.
- A significant interaction effect was observed: men with low hair cortisol concentrations showed a positive association between hair testosterone and risk-taking.
- Hair testosterone and 2D:4D ratio appear to be unrelated in their behavioral correlates.
Conclusions:
- The findings partially support the Dual Hormone Hypothesis, indicating an interaction between testosterone and cortisol in modulating risk-taking in men.
- Endogenous testosterone and 2D:4D ratio may have distinct organizing and activating effects on behavior.
- Behavioral effects of testosterone might be more sensitive to fluctuating hormone levels than to baseline concentrations.
Related Concept Videos
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K
01:22Hair Cells
45.3K
Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
45.3K
01:26Testosterone: Functions and Regulation
2.3K
The intricate hormonal interplay essential for male reproductive health begins with the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus. This hormone prompts the pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). LH targets the Leydig cells in the testes, stimulating them to produce and release testosterone. In concert with testosterone, FSH acts on the Sertoli cells within the seminiferous tubules to facilitate the release of...
2.3K
02:12Relationship Formation
46.3K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.3K
03:03Concentration and Rate Law
40.6K
The rate of a reaction is affected by the concentrations of reactants. Rate laws (differential rate laws) or rate equations are mathematical expressions describing the relationship between the rate of a chemical reaction and the concentration of its reactants.
For example, in a generic reaction aA + bB ⟶ products, where a and b are stoichiometric coefficients, the rate law can be written as:
For example, in a generic reaction aA + bB ⟶ products, where a and b are stoichiometric coefficients, the rate law can be written as:
40.6K
01:28Ending Relationships
205
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
205