The effect, derived from testosterone exposure in the womb, is particularly pronounced in boys. Children with long index fingers, by contrast, are more likely to be neurotic and sensitive.

The findings are the latest in a growing body of research associating the difference in finger lengths with character traits such as sporting prowess, homosexuality, aggression, promiscuity, autism and vulnerability to depression.

A typical male hand has a ring finger longer than the index finger, while on women’s hands the index finger is likely to be longer or of similar length.

Professor John Manning, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Central Lancashire who spearheaded the new research, said: “High testosterone before birth as indicated by digit ratio produces behavioural problems like temper tantrums, bullying, fights with other children, being hyperactive or being easily distracted.”

Manning, whose research is published this week in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, added: “The other very strong relationship to digit ratio is found in running speeds — there is a pretty good chance of predicting who is going to win a race.”

Manning and his team measured the ratio between the index and ring fingers of 114 children in Britain and Austria. The researchers then gave the children’s parents detailed questionnaires asking them about aspects of their children’s behaviour such as hyperactivity, inability to pay attention, poor social skills and bullying.

The results shows that the longer a child’s ring finger in comparison with the index finger, the more likely their parents were to rate them as hyperactive, aggressive or antisocial, with the association stronger for boys.

“For very increment you get an effect,” said Manning.

At the heart of the research is the theory that the two fingers are an anatomical record of what went on in the womb in the critical first three months.

A long ring finger is an indication that the developing heart, brain — and hands — were exposed to higher levels of the male hormone testosterone, while a long index finger is a marker of exposure to oestrogen, the female hormone.

Personality traits such as aggressiveness and fertility, which are strongly linked to gender, were among the first to be studied in relation to finger length.

In 2000, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, found that both men and women with index fingers of similar length to their ring fingers were more likely than average to be homosexual. This particular combination in finger lengths is at the “crossover” point for male and female hand shapes and near the middle of the spectrum of testosterone exposure.

This and other early reports caused surprise and some critics said they were little more accurate than palm-reading. Since then, however, the hormone-finger length link has become more widely accepted.

Scientists do not claim finger length is a definite indicator of personality, but they have since found links, for example, between long index fingers in women and a likelihood of being highly fertile, unassertive, neurotic and unlikely to take risks.

At the other extreme, men with particularly long ring fingers are more likely than average to be fertile, athletic and aggressive and to have poor verbal skills.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• I was not the underdog, says Frost
• First-timer scoops Booker with Indian tale
• Churchill 'bribed Franco's generals'