Women more attracted to men with longer ring finger--study

The ratio between the two fingers, known as the 2D: 4D ratio, is linked to sex hormone and determines how attractive a male face is considered. A lower ratio, that is, a longer ring finger than index, might explain for attractive and symmetrical features in men.

Previously, this ratio has been linked with fertility, sexuality, and competitive spirit in men.

The present research carried out by the University of Geneva, Switzerland, showed that men whose ring finger on their right hand is longer than their index finger are seen as better bets by women, possibly because their faces are more symmetrical, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"The aim was to understand what makes a man attractive," or at least some of those qualities "were in part conditioned by the foetal environment," lead researcher Camilli Ferdenzi said in press release.

Study details
For the present study, Ferdenzi and his team recruited 80 women university students in the ages of 18 to 34 to evaluate pictures of 49 men, in the same age group, for masculinity and attractiveness.

The women were asked to rate the pictures of these men for short term attractiveness--like going out for a romantic dinner date-- or long term attractiveness as a potential partner--masculinity and symmetry.

The researchers then compared these results with men's digit ratio measurements.

Findings
Researchers found that there was a strong co-relation between the 2D: 4D ratio and the level of attraction. The lower the ratio, the higher was the attractiveness.

Interestingly, only symmetry, not masculinity, was linked to the digit ratio.

Those with longer ring fingers were more likely to be seen as good prospects for both a short term fling or a long term relationship, the study found.

Scientists believe that exposure to high level sof testosterone in womb has a lasting effect on finger length and looks. The effect is more pronounced on the right hand than the left, claims the study reported in the 'Proceedings of the Royal Society B.'

For the visual test, the results were unambiguous. "What we found was that 2D:4D ratio can predict face attractiveness. The more masculine the 2D:4D is, the more attractive is the face," said Ferdenzi.

"The amount of sex hormones you are exposed to before birth contributes to how your face develops and how attractive it becomes."

Most women have index and ring finger of the same size, but in men, the fourth or ring finger tends to be longer than the index finger.