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Fernández Navarro V, Godinho RM, García Martínez D, Garate Maidagan D. Exploring the utility of Geometric Morphometrics to analyse prehistoric hand stencils. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6336. [PMID: 38491272 PMCID: PMC10943054 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56889-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Hand stencils are a remarkable graphic expression in Prehistoric rock art, dating back to 42 ka BP. Although these stencils provide direct impressions of the artists' hands, the characterization of their biological profile (i.e., biological sex and age) is very challenging. Previous studies have attempted this analysis with traditional morphometrics (TM), whereas little research has been undertaken using Geometric Morphometrics (GM), a method widely used in other disciplines but only tentatively employed in rock art studies. However, the large variation in relative finger position in archaeological hands poses the question of whether these representations can be examined through GM, or, in contrast, if this creates an unmanageable error in the results. To address this issue, a 2D hand scans sample of 70 living individuals (F = 35; M = 35) has been collected in three standardized positions (n = 210) and digitized with 32 2D conventional landmarks. Results show that the intra-individual distance (mean Procrustes distance between Pos. 1-2 = 0.132; 2-3 = 0.191; 1-3 = 0.292) is larger than the inter-individual distance (mean in 1 = 0.122; 2 = 0.142; 3 = 0.165). Finally, it has been demonstrated that the relative finger positions, as well as the inclusion of all hand parts in the analysis, have an overshadowing effect on other variables potentially involved in the morphometric variability of the hand, such as biological sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Fernández Navarro
- Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantabria (IIIPC), Universidad de Cantabria, Gobierno de Cantabria, Santander, Avenida de los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Spain.
| | - R M Godinho
- Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour (ICArHEB), Faculdade das Ciências Humanas e Sociais, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - D García Martínez
- Physical Anthropology Unit, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - D Garate Maidagan
- Instituto Internacional de Investigaciones Prehistóricas de Cantabria (IIIPC), Universidad de Cantabria, Gobierno de Cantabria, Santander, Avenida de los Castros s/n, 39005, Santander, Spain
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Soppelsa J, Pouydebat E, Lefeuvre M, Mulot B, Houssin C, Cornette R. The relationship between distal trunk morphology and object grasping in the African savannah elephant ( Loxodonta africana). PeerJ 2022; 10:e13108. [PMID: 35368332 PMCID: PMC8969868 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During reach-to-grasp movements, the human hand is preshaped depending on the properties of the object. Preshaping may result from learning, morphology, or motor control variability and can confer a selective advantage on that individual or species. This preshaping ability is known in several mammals (i.e., primates, carnivores and rodents). However, apart from the tongue preshaping of lizards and chameleons, little is known about preshaping of other grasping appendages. In particular, the elephant trunk, a muscular hydrostat, has impressive grasping skills and thus is commonly called a hand. Data on elephant trunk grasping strategies are scarce, and nothing is known about whether elephants preshape their trunk tip according to the properties of their food. Methods To determine the influence of food sizes and shapes on the form of the trunk tip, we investigated the morphology of the distal part of the trunk during grasping movements. The influence of food item form on trunk tip shape was quantified in six female African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana). Three food item types were presented to the elephants (elongated, flat, and cubic), as well as three different sizes of cubic items. A total of 107 ± 10 grips per individual were video recorded, and the related trunk tip shapes were recorded with a 2D geometric morphometric approach. Results Half of the individuals adjusted the shape of the distal part of their trunk according to the object type. Of the three elephants that did not preshape their trunk tip, one was blind and another was subadult. Discussion and perspectives We found that elephants preshaped their trunk tip, similar to the preshaping of other species' hands or paws during reach-to-grasp movements. This preshaping may be influenced by visual feedback and individual learning. To confirm these results, this study could be replicated with a larger sample of elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Soppelsa
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), Centre national de la recherche scientifique/Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Pouydebat
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), Centre national de la recherche scientifique/Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Maëlle Lefeuvre
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University Cracow, Cracow, Poland
| | - Baptiste Mulot
- Zooparc de Beauval & Beauval Nature, Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Céline Houssin
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Centre national de la recherche scientifique/ Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, SU, EPHE, UA, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Cornette
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Centre national de la recherche scientifique/ Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, SU, EPHE, UA, Paris, France
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Polcerová L, Chovancová M, Králík M, Beňuš R, Klíma O, Meinerová T, Čuta M, Petrová ME. Radioulnar contrasts in fingerprint ridge counts: Searching for dermatoglyphic markers of early sex development. Am J Hum Biol 2021; 34:e23695. [PMID: 34757677 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Using prenatally fixed dermatoglyphics features as markers of prenatal sex development is limited due to insufficient knowledge on their sex differences. This study aims to examine more thoroughly sex differences in radioulnar contrasts. METHODS Fingerprints of 360 females and 331 males from four samples of different ethnic backgrounds (Czechs, Slovaks, Vietnamese and Lusatian Sorbs) were studied. On both hands, finger ridge counts were recorded, and all possible radioulnar contrasts were computed as a difference between ridge count at a radial position minus ridge count at a respective ulnar position on the hand. Radioulnar contrasts with population-congruent and numerically large dimorphism were selected and the dimorphism of the selected radioulnar contrasts was then tested using nonparametric analysis of variance. RESULTS Greater dimorphism of radioulnar contrasts occurred on the right hand than on the left hand. Population congruent direction and relatively strong dimorphism (Cohen's d greater than 0.3) was found in six radioulnar contrasts on the right hand, all of which involved the radial ridge count of the 2nd finger. Of these, the highest average dimorphism was observed for the difference between the radial ridge count of the 2nd finger and the ulnar ridge count of the 4th finger (2r4u contrast), where the average effect size from all four population samples was comparable to a published average effect size of the 2D:4D finger length ratio. CONCLUSION We propose that 2r4u contrast of ridge counts could serve as a marker of prenatal sexual development targeting a temporally narrow developmental window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Polcerová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Anthropology, Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Chovancová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Anthropology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Miroslav Králík
- Faculty of Science, Department of Anthropology, Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radoslav Beňuš
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Anthropology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ondřej Klíma
- Faculty of Information Technology, IT4Innovations Centre of Excellence, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Meinerová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Anthropology, Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Čuta
- Faculty of Science, Department of Anthropology, Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Elisabeth Petrová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Anthropology, Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Králík M, Hupková A, Zeman T, Hložek M, Hlaváček L, Slováčková M, Čuta M, Urbanová P. Family effects on the digit ratio (2D:4D): The role of the interbirth interval. Am J Hum Biol 2019; 31:e23260. [PMID: 31183942 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Family represents the closest social environment that immediately affects human ontogeny from an early prenatal period. This study aimed to assess sibship influences on the second-to-fourth digit length ratio (2D:4D ratio). METHODS The source sample represented 329 children aged 6.5 to 15.8 years (Czech Republic), including a subsample of 75 sibling pairs. A combination of (a) between-family design (cross-sectional sample) and (b) within-family design (pairs of siblings) was used to study the effect of family variables and interbirth interval (IBI) on the 2D:4D ratio. RESULTS Birth order, number of siblings (except for younger sisters), and sex ratio in siblings were significantly related to the 2D:4D ratio on the right, left, or both hands. At the same time, the relationships were opposite in males and females for birth order, number of older brothers and number of children in the family--increasing values in these variables increased digit ratio in males but decreased digit ratio in females. Mean difference in 2D:4D ratio (DIFF) within pairs (older minus younger sibling) differed from zero only in the "older sister--younger brother" group, where DIFF did not depend on IBI. On the contrary, in remaining pair types the DIFF tended to change with IBI, the strongest in the "older brother--younger sister" pairs. CONCLUSIONS Family variables, especially number of older brothers, should be considered as important confounding factors in 2D:4D ratio studies. However, the effect of these variables might be modified by IBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Králík
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology (LaMorFA), Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Adela Hupková
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology (LaMorFA), Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Zeman
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hložek
- Department of Archaeology and Museology, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Hlaváček
- Palacký University Olomouc, Conference Services, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Slováčková
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology (LaMorFA), Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Čuta
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology (LaMorFA), Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Urbanová
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology (LaMorFA), Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Králík M, Polcerová L, Čuta M. Sex differences in frequencies of dermatoglyphic patterns by individual fingers. Ann Hum Biol 2019; 46:231-245. [PMID: 31122075 DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2019.1622778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: The size of sex differences in dermatoglyphic features and their inter-population differences remains a subject of debate. Combining fingers in traditional dermatoglyphic methodology and omitting finger-specific variations might be a cause for uncertainty.Aim: To compare sex differences in whorl frequencies between fingers.Subjects and methods: Using meta-analytical methods, the authors studied sex differences in frequencies of whorls (log Odd Ratios) for each finger separately, including their heterogeneities (between-samples variance). The dataset of 204 population samples was extracted from published dermatoglyphic studies.Results: Aggregated effects of sex differences were significant in all fingers, except for the left 1st finger. Sex differences were higher in the right hand and increased from radial to ulnar fingers. Apart from the right 1st and 3rd fingers, heterogeneities were small and literally zero in the right 4th finger.Conclusion: Higher sex differences in ulnar fingers and the lack of interpopulation differences all over the world in the 4th finger might be caused by a stronger influence of genetic and/or hormonal factors on dermatoglyphic development of the ulnar side of the hand. It is suggested that future studies, when applying dermatoglyphic traits as markers of prenatal environment, use traits by individual fingers or their relationships within the hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav Králík
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Polcerová
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Čuta
- Laboratory of Morphology and Forensic Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Kubicka AM, Myszka A, Piontek J. Geometric morphometrics: does the appearance of the septal aperture depend on the shape of ulnar processes? Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2015; 298:2030-8. [PMID: 26402574 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Many theories have been suggested to explain the etiology of septal apertures (SA) of the humerus. The influence of genes, the size of ulnar processes, joint laxity, and bone robusticity, have been discussed; however, the problem has not yet been solved. The main aim of this study was to examine the influence of ulnar and humeri shape on septal aperture formation, using geometric morphometric analyses. Skeletal material from an early-mediaeval cemetery located in Western Poland was used. The material comprised two groups: (1) ulnae and humeri with septal apertures, (2) ulnae and humeri without septal apertures. From a CT image, three-dimensional reconstructions were obtained for all bones. Then, 25 landmarks were distributed on each proximal end of the ulnae and 30 landmarks on the distal ends of the humeri. Shape differences between ulnae in joints with and without SA were significant for the left and right sides of the body. The shapes of the left and right distal ends of humeri with SA differed significantly from those without SA. Similar results were obtained for the right side of the body. Ulnae from joints with SA were characterized by a more pronounced olecranon process, a smaller articulated coronoid process and a more tightly curved trochlear notch than ulnae from joints without SA. Humeri with SA included wider and deeper olecranon fossae and smaller and less curved articular surfaces. These results partly coincide with the results of other research indicating the influence of olecranon processes on lamina perforation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Kubicka
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, PL-61-614, Poland
| | - Anna Myszka
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, PL-61-614, Poland
| | - Janusz Piontek
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, PL-61-614, Poland
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