People with long thumbs also have large brains says boffins with long thumbs

University of Reading says the link between manual dexterity and mental firepower is real and results suggest that humans with unusually large thumbs also grew heavier brains. People with love thumbs are clever say boffins - who probably have long thumbs (Image: Getty Images)

People who have longer thumbs have bigger brains, boffins claim. Scientists studied 94 primate species from Neanderthals to lemurs and made the discovery. ‌

Researchers from the University of Reading explored the link between manual dexterity and mental firepower. The results suggest that humans with unusually large thumbs also grew heavier brains. ‌

It was a similar pattern across the primate family as each expanded in tandem towards greater size and sophistication. Dr Joanna Baker, who led the study,