Washington, Sept 17 (ANI): Lacking the motivation to go for a run or hit the gym? Please check your fingers, for according to a new study, there's a direct correlation between digit length and voluntary exercise.

The joint University of Alberta/ University of California- Riverside research is to be published by PLoS ONE, the online, open-access journal from the Public Library of Science.

The study, conducted using 1,000 white mice, supports a stronger connection between digit length, voluntary exercise and high levels of prenatal stress hormones, which was indicated by the difference in activity level between the control mice and the selectively-bred active mice.

Given the results, the findings suggest that prenatal stress rather than prenatal testosterone levels in the womb, forms a component of the inherent desire for physical activity.

"The research shows a link, or relationship, between the brain, behaviour and personality traits and the shape of the hand," said Peter Hurd, University of Alberta psychology professor and one of the lead researchers.

"It opens the door to the notion that aspects of one's personality, in this case the desire to exercise, are fixed very early in life," the researcher added. (ANI)