You can tell how well a child will score on standardized math and English tests by looking at the length of their fingers, according to new study in the British Journal of Psychology.

Apparently a 7-year-old with a long ring finger, when compared to the length of his index finger, is more likely to have better math skills than English. A child who has a shorter ring finger compared to his index finger tends to do better in English than math.

The scientists say this makes sense because finger length and brain development are both determined to some extent by the amount of estrogen and testosterone a baby is exposed to in the womb.

High testosterone exposure is associated with a long ring finger and also spatial and math skills, according to a press release from the University of Bath, where the lead study author works. Meanwhile, estrogen is associated with shorter ring fingers and better verbal skills.

People's biases about drugs can be powerful

A study by Canadian researchers found that people didn't mind taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin - until they were told its name.

The study actually set out to find the best way of explaining benefits and risks of treatments to a group of volunteers age 65 and older. The information was presented to different volunteers in different forms, such as pie charts or pictograms and audiotapes or interactive computer programs.

The volunteers were not told the names of the two drugs they were comparing. They just learned about the benefits and side effects of each. The volunteers were about equally divided between the two drugs.

Then, the scientists told the volunteers the names of the two drugs: warfarin and Aspirin. About 36 percent of the volunteers changed their choice. Most switched their choice from warfarin to Aspirin. Many who had chosen to take neither of the drugs switched their choice to Aspirin after the names were revealed.

That surprised the scientists, who were working under the assumption that patients want to make decisions based on evidence. Instead, it appears, many people make their treatment decisions based on preconceived notions and gut feelings.

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Julie Kirkwood's Health and Science Journal runs in Health North on Mondays. She can be reached at 978-946-2251 or jkirkwood@eagletribune.com.