Fetal testosterone (2D:4D) as predictor of cognitive reflection

Antoni Bosch-Domènech, Pablo Brañas-Garza and Antonio Espín
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Antoni Bosch-Domènech: Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Barcelona Graduate School of Economics

Working Papers from Chapman University, Economic Science Institute

Abstract: The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) is a test introduced by S. Frederick (2005) Cognitive reflection and decision making, J Econ Perspect 19(4): 25-42. The task is designed to measure the tendency to override an intuitive response that is incorrect and to engage in further reflection that leads to the correct response. The consistent sex differences in CRT performance may suggest a role for gonadal hormones, particularly testosterone. A now widely studied putative marker for fetal testosterone is the second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D). This paper tests to what extent 2D:4D, as a proxy for prenatal exposure to testosterone, can predict CRT scores in a sample of 623 students. After controlling for sex, we observe that a lower 2D:4D (reflecting a higher exposure to testosterone) is significantly associated with a higher number of correct answers. The result holds for both hands’ 2D:4Ds. In addition, the effect appears to be sharper for females than for males. We also control for patience and math proficiency, which are significantly related to performance in the CRT. But the effect of 2D:4D on performance in CRT is not reduced with these controls, implying that these variables are not mediating the relationship between digit ratio and CRT.

Keywords: Cognitive Refection Test; 2D:4D; fetal testosterone; patience; sex (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 22 pages
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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http://www.chapman.edu/research-and-institutions/e ... tal-testosterone.pdf

Related works:
Working Paper: Can exposure to prenatal sex hormones (2D:4D) predict cognitive reflection? (2013)
Working Paper: Fetal testosterone (2D:4D) as predictor of cognitive reflection (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:chu:wpaper:13-18

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