Technophobia sprouts in the womb

Scientists have revealed that the fear of technology, or technophobia, could be determined when a person is still in the womb.

Researchers at the University of Bath in the UK said the hormones we are exposed to in the womb could determine our attitude towards technology.

The researchers believe that pre-natal testosterone exposure has an effect on the way the brain develops, which makes it either easier or more difficult to understand technology.

"Lower levels of pre-natal testosterone exposure were related to anxieties concerning the use of new technologies, such as computers," The Daily Mail quoted Mark Brosnan, lead author of the study, as saying.

Researchers found that levels of pre-natal testosterone exposure were higher in computer science students.

Levels of exposure were measured by comparing the length of the students' ring finger to the index finger, with the greater difference in length indicating higher exposure to pre-natal testosterone.

They also found that a relatively shorter ring finger, relative to the index finger, was connected to greater feelings of anxiety about using technology.

In addition, the research suggested that lower exposure to pre-natal testosterone relates to general anxiety sensitivity.

"The relationship between pre-natal testosterone exposure and sensitivity to anxiety could be useful in tailoring information differently to help anxiety concerning new technologies," Brosnan said.

The research will be published in the academic journal Personality And Individual Differences.