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5. Sex dimorphism in face shape and 2D:4D ratio

Sex dimorphism in face shape and 2D:4D ratio

Goncharova N.N., Fedorchuk K.V.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Anthropology, Leninsky Gory, 1, 12, Moscow, 119234, Russia

Goncharova Natalia N., PhD; ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8504-1175; 1455008@gmail.com; Fedorchuk Kristina V., Researcher; christielikegem@yandex.ru.

Abstract

Introduction. The aim of the work is to search for possible associations between facial masculinity and 2D:4D ratio. It is supposed that sex steroids moderate the facial shape sexual differences. On the other hand, digit ratio (2D:4D) is a proxy to prenatal testosterone. So suggests that there is a relationship between these two systems. Material and methods. A sample of 203 individuals belonging to two geographical groups of Russians (99 males and 104 females) was studied. The age of the surveyed individuals ranges between 18 to 24 years. The lengths of the second and fourth fingers on the left and right hand are measured, as well as the main dimensions of the face (in the photos). Correlation, regression and canonical analyses are used to find connections between 2D:4D ratio and face shape. The sexual differences and dissimilarity between two geographical samples were studied by discriminant analysis. Results. The value of sexual dimorphism based on facial features was estimated by using Mahalanobis distances in each of the two geographical groups. The Moscow sample has more noticeable sexual differences in facial shape than the Gorno-Altaysk one. The characteristics that separate males and females in both regional groups are height of the face and signs of massiveness of the chin. None of the types of intragroup analysis detected correlations between facial masculinity and the 2D:4D ratio. Low associations were found by analysis of group’s means of 2D:4D ratio and chin’s height. Discussion. It is possible that the significance of sexual differences in the 2D:4D index is greatly exaggerated. This suggests that prenatal and pubertal testosterone have differential effects on facial shape. Conclusion. These relationships of the digit ratio and face shape are revealing only at the intergroup level and only as trends. In addition, the territorial variability of these two morphological complexes overlaps and thus cut down the sexual differences.

Keywords

sexual dimorphism; facial shape; facial masculinity; 2D:4D ratio; multivariate methods

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2020.3.005-018

Цит.: Goncharova N.N., Fedorchuk K.V. Sex dimorphism in face shape and 2D:4D ratio // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2020; 3/2020; с. 5-18