That's not what I've heard.
Posted on 01/24/2005 9:24:11 AM PST by untenured
Map reading and parking may prove difficult for some women because they were exposed to too little testosterone in the womb, researchers suggest.
The study, in the journal Intelligence, fuels the age-old male myth that women are deficient in these skills.
Scientists from the University of Giessen, Germany, found a lack of the hormone affects spatial ability.
Low testosterone levels are also linked to shorter wedding ring fingers, they say.
The research looked at the spatial, numerical and verbal skills of 40 student volunteers.
Spatial skill is the ability to assess and orientate shapes and spaces. Map reading and parking are spatial skills which men often say women lack. Women tend to disagree.
The researchers also looked at the length of the students' wedding and index fingers.
In women, the two fingers are usually almost equal in length, as measured from the crease nearest the palm to the fingertip. In men, the ring finger tends to be much longer than the index.
For one of the spatial tests, volunteers had to tell which of five drawings could not be rotated so it looked like the other four.
The other test involved the ability to think in 3D by mentally "unfolding" a complex shape.
Overall, men achieved higher scores in the tests than women.
But women with the male pattern of finger length did better than those whose wedding finger was shorter.
They also scored better on the numerical tests.
Fertility
Writing in Intelligence, the researchers, led by Dr Petra Kempel, said women who had 'male-like' finger length ratio patterns outperformed other women.
They added that the differences seen within the group studied were "remarkable."
However, the researchers accept that their study was limited because only one saliva sample was taken from each person, and no detailed account was taken of women's menstrual cycle, which can affect hormone balance.
Other studies looking at finger length ratio have suggested that, in men a long ring finger and symmetrical hands are an indication of fertility, and that women are more likely to be fertile if they have a longer index finger.
Another study controversially suggested that finger length ratio could also be linked to sexual orientation, with lesbian women having a greater difference in length between their ring finger and index finger than straight women do.
Well, I don't have any trouble reading a map.
You are one of about 5% of women who can read one. Congrats. My wife still can't parallel park worth a darn, despite my very patient training.
with lesbian women having a greater difference in length between their ring finger and index finger than straight women do.
Could there be a cure? POLITICALLY INCORRECT thought!
Uh-oh. I'm sensing a theme................
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1327307/posts
Bwaa haaaaa...
I'm a pro at driving ;)
Getting a man to read a map is the hard first step, almost as difficult as having him stop to ask for directions. ;)
Note to self: Check length of girlfriends' ring finger asap.
Really?
Hey,............Hon!
i can read a map, parallel park and have a better innate sense of direction than my hub and my ring and index fingers are precisely the same length. this is a crock o crap!~
I tried to teach my wife to drive a standard shift. After 30 minutes and about 30000 miles of wear on the clutch we gave up. She was not even able to start the truck moving.
Someone actually got paid to do research with a statistical sample of 40 people in one location.
Criminy.
There you go with the medical terminology. ;)
That's not what I've heard.
Automatic Transmission is a woman's best friend.
"You are one of about 5% of women who can read one. Congrats"
Me too! And can park and maneuver well.
Never dreamt it was only 5%. I think many women do not even try.
I used to read a map all the time even before I went into the Army. Once, I told my driver, there is a little road coming up after a culvert; I want you to make a right turn there." He was mystified til I explained a 1:50K In Germany, you almost can't get lost with a 1:50.
Women who can't read maps don't belong in the Army, for sure.
She is the only reason I gave up my stick shifts.
well i learned it all from you, you are FONT of medical terms! ; )
I also can read a map, parallel park, back into a space using mirrors, judge distances....etc. This study will be disproved as soon as another study is conducted. Whenever there is a "study" taken, the only variable that are put into the study are the ones that back up your point of view.
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