http://www.afpbb.com/article/environment-science-it/science-technology/2557669/3683776
薬指が人差し指よりも長い人は金融トレーダー向き、英大学研究
【1月14日 AFP】薬指が人差し指よりも長い人には、トレーダーとしての資質があるとの研究結果が、12日の米科学アカデミー紀要（Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences）に発表された。
これまでの研究で、薬指と人差し指の長さの割合（2D:4D比率）は、胎児期に、脳の発育に作用して自信と反射作用を高めるアンドロゲン（男性ホルモンの一種）にどれくらいさらされたかを測る指針となることがわかっていた。
今回の研究を主導した英ケンブリッジ大学（University of Cambridge）のジョン・コーティーズ（John Coates）氏によると、アンドロゲンは巨額の金融取引に必要な集中力と反射作用を改善するという。
研究チームは、ロンドン（London）の金融街シティの素早い決断力と迅速な反射行動を必要とする取引に従事している44人の男性トレーダーを対象に、指の長さを計測し、これらのトレーダーの過去20か月間の取引の利益と損失を比べた。
その結果、薬指の長い人の方が長期にわたり高い利益を上げ、金融業界におけるキャリアも長い傾向にあることがわかった。
http://www.pnas.org/content/106/2/623.abstract?sid=8fab22ea-f1a6-44dd-a4b8-20b80ce2c356
Second-to-fourth digit ratio predicts success among high-frequency financial traders
John M. Coatesab1, Mark Gurnellc1 and Aldo Rustichinid1
- Author Affiliations
aDepartment of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom;
bJudge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1AG, United Kingdom;
cDepartment of Medicine and Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom; and
dDepartment of Economics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9DD, United Kingdom
Edited by Bruce S. McEwen, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, and approved November 14, 2008 (received for review October 28, 2008)
Abstract
Prenatal androgens have important organizing effects on brain development and future behavior. The second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D) has been proposed as a marker of these prenatal androgen effects, a relatively longer fourth finger indicating higher prenatal androgen exposure. 2D:4D has been shown to predict success in highly competitive sports. Yet, little is known about the effects of prenatal androgens on an economically influential class of competitive risk taking—trading in the financial world. Here, we report the findings of a study conducted in the City of London in which we sampled 2D:4D from a group of male traders engaged in what is variously called “noise” or “high-frequency” trading. We found that 2D:4D predicted the traders' long-term profitability as well as the number of years they remained in the business. 2D:4D also predicted the sensitivity of their profitability to increases both in circulating testosterone and in market volatility. Our results suggest that prenatal androgens increase risk preferences and promote more rapid visuomotor scanning and physical reflexes. The success and longevity of traders exposed to high levels of prenatal androgens further suggests that financial markets may select for biological traits rather than rational expectations.
AJLにおける過去の指関連記事
薬指の長さで運動の素質がわかる？
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/annojo/20061002#p1
MTFTSにおける典型的な女性の人差し指/薬指の長さの比―出生前のアンドロゲン暴露の可能性
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/annojo/20060825#p2
男性同性愛者は過度な男性化？
