Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice
Published on: March 5, 2020
Sex Differences in Sexual Arousal and Finger Length Ratio
Luke Holmes1, Tuesday M Watts-Overall2, Erlend Slettevold3
1Department of Psychology, University of Essex.
Abstract:
Most men show sexual arousal to one, preferred sex, whereas most women respond to both sexes, regardless of their sexual orientation. A different research program indicates that men have lower second-to-fourth finger length ratios (2D:4D) than women, possibly because men are exposed to higher levels of androgens during prenatal development. We hypothesized that sex differences in sexual arousal patterns are influenced by prenatal androgen exposure and would thus be explained by sex differences in 2D:4D. We measured the sexual response patterns of 139 men and 179 women via genital arousal and pupil dilation to erotic videos, in addition to their 2D:4D. Compared to women, men showed stronger responses to one sex over the other, although this pattern was clearer in genital arousal than pupil dilation. Men also had lower 2D:4D than women. However, there was no evidence that sex differences in sexual arousal related to sex differences in 2D:4D. Thus, whichever factor explains sex differences in sexual arousal patterns may not be reflected in 2D:4D.
Related Concept Videos
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female...
Factors Influencing Attraction II: Physical Attraction
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing,...
Factors Influencing Attraction III: Similarity
Male Sexual Response: Erection & Ejaculation
The blood filling the erectile tissues compresses the veins, which helps to prevent blood from leaving...
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Phallic

