Martel Michelle M, Gobrogge Kyle L, Breedlove S Marc, Nigg Joel T
Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823-1116, USA.
Behav Neurosci. 2008 Apr;122(2):273-81. doi: 10.1037/0735-7044.122.2.273.
Gonadal hormones may exert permanent organizational effects on sexually dimorphic finger-length ratios and sexually dimorphic behavior expressed in childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study extended recent work examining associations between finger-length ratios (specifically, 2D:4D) and ADHD in a well-characterized, clinically diagnosed, community-recruited sample of boys and girls. A multistage, diagnostic procedure was utilized to identify 113 children with ADHD and 137 non-ADHD comparison children. Right-hand digit ratios showed significant mean differences by gender, as well as associations with ADHD diagnosis. Boys with ADHD had more masculinized digit ratios than control-group boys. More masculine right 2D:4D and 3D:4D ratios were correlated with parent- and teacher-rated inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in boys but not in girls. Masculinized finger-length ratios were associated with hyperactive-impulsive and oppositional- defiant symptoms, but associations were largest with symptoms of inattention. It is concluded that prenatal, organizational effects of gonadal hormones may play a role in the development of ADHD and contribute to explaining sex differences in the prevalence rates of this childhood disorder.
性腺激素可能对儿童注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）中表现出的性二态手指长度比例和性二态行为产生永久性的组织效应。本研究扩展了近期的工作，在一个特征明确、临床诊断、社区招募的男孩和女孩样本中，研究手指长度比例（特别是2D:4D）与ADHD之间的关联。采用多阶段诊断程序，确定了113名患有ADHD的儿童和137名非ADHD对照儿童。右手手指比例显示出显著的性别平均差异，以及与ADHD诊断的关联。患有ADHD的男孩比对照组男孩的手指比例更具男性化特征。更具男性化特征的右手2D:4D和3D:4D比例与男孩的父母和教师评定的注意力不集中及多动冲动症状相关，但与女孩无关。男性化的手指长度比例与多动冲动和对立违抗症状相关，但与注意力不集中症状的关联最为显著。研究得出结论，性腺激素的产前组织效应可能在ADHD的发展中起作用，并有助于解释这种儿童疾病患病率的性别差异。
