Recent evidence suggests that using finger-based strategies is beneficial for the acquisition of basic numerical skills. There are basically two finger-based strategies to be distinguished: (a) finger counting (i.e., extending single fingers successively) and (b) finger number gesturing (i.e., extending fingers simultaneously to represent magnitudes). In this study, we investigated both spontaneous and prompted finger counting and finger number gesturing as well as their contribution to basic numerical skills in 3- to 5-year-olds (N = 156). Results revealed that only 6% of children spontaneously used their fingers for counting when asked to name a specific number of animals, whereas 59% applied finger number gesturing to show their age. This indicates that the spontaneous use of finger-based strategies depends heavily on the specific context. Moreover, children performed significantly better in prompted finger counting than in finger number gesturing, suggesting that both strategies build on each other. Finally, both prompted finger counting and finger number gesturing significantly and individually predicted counting, cardinal number knowledge, and basic arithmetic. These results indicate that finger counting and finger number gesturing follow and positively relate to numerical development.

BACKGROUND: Dermatoglyphics is the study on edpidermal ridges on the palmar and plantar surfaces of the feet and hand. Embryological development of orodental structures and these dermal patterns occur during the same period. The environmentally influenced genetic predisposition is found in different types of malocclusions. This malocclusion should also exhibit different dermal patterns which are unique for each class.
OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to compare the Dermatoglyphics parameters of individuals with normal occlusions and various classes of malocclusions.
METHODS: The participants were divided into four groups; Group 1: class I ideal; Group 2: class I malocclusionl; Group 3: class II Div 1 and Div 2; Group IV: class III. The finger and palmar prints were obtained and they were analyzed for each type of pattern. The Total Finger Fridge Count (TFRC), a-b ridge count and the angle \"atd\" (angle formed by connecting lines from digital triradius \'a\' to the axial triradius and from this triradius to the digital triradius \'d\') were associated with particular groups.
RESULTS: The data was entered and analyzed by using Students t-test and ANOVA.
CONCLUSIONS: Particular predictive occurrence of patterns was not found to be associated with each group. However, some of the finger patterns, such as increase in twinned loops in class II malocclusions and absence of radial loops in class III malocclusions were found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). The parameters associated with palmar prints had no statistical significance. Further studies with more samples in each group should be carried out.