For decades, people have been associating big heads or skull sizes with intelligence. But now, a new study conducted by scientists has revealed that the size of your hands may indicate the size of your brain.

So, is it true that big hands equal big brain size? Let’s find out.

What the researchers found

The researchers conducted a study on over 500 men and women with ages ranging from 19-65. They found that people with larger hands tend to have bigger brains.

The results of the study concluded that a person’s brain size could be reliably predicted by looking at their hand length.

The researchers also found a correlation between hand size and a person’s cognitive ability. Those with larger hands and therefore larger brains tend to perform better on cognitive tests and have higher IQs.

However, this relationship was not as strong as the correlation between hand size and brain size.

Why does hand size correlate with brain size?

The reason why hand size correlates with brain size is not yet clear. However, the researchers have some theories.

One theory is that during embryonic development, the same genetic mechanisms that regulate the growth of the brain are also involved in the growth of the hands. Another theory suggests that larger hands may indicate higher levels of testosterone, which has also been linked to enhanced cognitive abilities and larger brain size.

Limitations of the study

While the study suggests a correlation between hand size and brain size, it does not mean that big hands always equal big brains. There are many other factors that can affect brain size, such as age, genetics, and environment.

Additionally, the study was conducted on a relatively small group of people and only looked at hand length, not hand width or other factors that could affect the results.

Other ways to measure brain size

The size of a person’s head or cranium is still a good indicator of brain size. However, measuring skull size is less accurate than measuring hand size.

CT scans or MRIs are the most accurate ways to measure brain size, but they are also more expensive and time-consuming.

The impact of brain size on intelligence

While the study suggests that larger brains are linked to higher cognitive ability, it is important to note that brain size is not the only factor that determines intelligence.

Other factors, such as education, environment, and genetics, also play a role. In fact, some studies have found that brain size only explains about 6% of the variance in intelligence.

Conclusion

So, does big hands equal big brain size? The answer is yes, according to the new study conducted by scientists. However, this correlation is not absolute and does not mean that people with smaller hands have smaller brains or lower cognitive abilities.

Brain size is just one of many factors that contribute to intelligence and cognitive ability.