1
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Williams MN, Lee Apicella C. A test of multimodal communication in humans using 881 judgements of men and women's physical, vocal, and olfactory attractiveness. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16895. [PMID: 37342575 PMCID: PMC10277517 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Human mate value is assessed on numerous variables including, reproductive potential and disease resistance. Many of these variables have been correlated with judgments of physical, vocal, and odor attractiveness. While some researchers posit that attractiveness judgments made across different sensory modalities reflect the same underlying variable(s) (i.e., the information is redundant), others suggest that judgments made in different modalities reflect different variables. Previous studies of human attractiveness indicate that attractiveness judgments of others' faces, bodies, and voices are intercorrelated, which is suggested to support the redundancy hypothesis. Less is known about body odor attractiveness. Only one study has simultaneously investigated the relationships between judgments of body odor, face, and voice attractiveness finding weak positive associations, but small effect sizes. In this study, we empirically investigate the correlation between different modalities of attractiveness in men and women in the largest sample to date (N = 881 ratings). For men, we find no correlations between modalities of attractiveness. However, for women we find odor, face, and voice attractiveness are weakly correlated. Moreover, a general attractiveness factor (i.e., a common underlying variable) modestly contributed to the observed correlations between modality-specific attractiveness judgments, providing some evidence for the redundancy hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Nicole Williams
- University of Pennsylvania, Solomon Laboratories, 3720 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 09104, USA
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Coren Lee Apicella
- University of Pennsylvania, Solomon Laboratories, 3720 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 09104, USA
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2
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Lavan N. Trait impressions from voices: Considering multiple ‘origin stories’ and the dynamic nature of trait‐related cues. Br J Psychol 2022; 114:495-497. [PMID: 36471646 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Experimental findings for trait impressions from voices are often discussed in relation to potential evolutionary origins. This commentary takes Sutherland and Young's (2022) account of the different potential origins of facial trait impressions to suggest that vocal trait impressions should also be viewed as having been shaped by cultural and individual learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Lavan
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology Queen Mary University London London UK
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3
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Chen S, Han C, Wang S, Liu X, Wang B, Wei R, Lei X. Hearing the physical condition: The relationship between sexually dimorphic vocal traits and underlying physiology. Front Psychol 2022; 13:983688. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.983688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing amount of research has shown associations between sexually dimorphic vocal traits and physiological conditions related to reproductive advantage. This paper presented a review of the literature on the relationship between sexually dimorphic vocal traits and sex hormones, body size, and physique. Those physiological conditions are important in reproductive success and mate selection. Regarding sex hormones, there are associations between sex-specific hormones and sexually dimorphic vocal traits; about body size, formant frequencies are more reliable predictors of human body size than pitch/fundamental frequency; with regard to the physique, there is a possible but still controversial association between human voice and strength and combat power, while pitch is more often used as a signal of aggressive intent in conflict. Future research should consider demographic, cross-cultural, cognitive interaction, and emotional motivation influences, in order to more accurately assess the relationship between voice and physiology. Moreover, neurological studies were recommended to gain a deeper understanding of the evolutionary origins and adaptive functions of voice modulation.
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4
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Lenschow C, Mendes ARP, Lima SQ. Hearing, touching, and multisensory integration during mate choice. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:943888. [PMID: 36247731 PMCID: PMC9559228 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.943888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mate choice is a potent generator of diversity and a fundamental pillar for sexual selection and evolution. Mate choice is a multistage affair, where complex sensory information and elaborate actions are used to identify, scrutinize, and evaluate potential mating partners. While widely accepted that communication during mate assessment relies on multimodal cues, most studies investigating the mechanisms controlling this fundamental behavior have restricted their focus to the dominant sensory modality used by the species under examination, such as vision in humans and smell in rodents. However, despite their undeniable importance for the initial recognition, attraction, and approach towards a potential mate, other modalities gain relevance as the interaction progresses, amongst which are touch and audition. In this review, we will: (1) focus on recent findings of how touch and audition can contribute to the evaluation and choice of mating partners, and (2) outline our current knowledge regarding the neuronal circuits processing touch and audition (amongst others) in the context of mate choice and ask (3) how these neural circuits are connected to areas that have been studied in the light of multisensory integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constanze Lenschow
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita P Mendes
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Q Lima
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Neuroscience Program, Lisbon, Portugal
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5
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Alekseeva M, Myachykov A, Bermudez-Margaretto B, Shtyrov Y. Neurophysiological correlates of automatic integration of voice and gender information during grammatical processing. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13114. [PMID: 35908074 PMCID: PMC9339001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
During verbal communication, interlocutors rely on both linguistic (e.g., words, syntax) and extralinguistic (e.g., voice quality) information. The neural mechanisms of extralinguistic information processing are particularly poorly understood. To address this, we used EEG and recorded event-related brain potentials while participants listened to Russian pronoun-verb phrases presented in either male or female voice. Crucially, we manipulated congruency between the grammatical gender signaled by the verbs' ending and the speakers' apparent gender. To focus on putative automatic integration of extralinguistic information into syntactic processing and avoid confounds arising from secondary top-down processes, we used passive non-attend auditory presentation with visual distraction and no stimulus-related task. Most expressed neural responses were found at both early (150 ms, ELAN-like) and late (400 ms, N400-like) phrase processing stages. Crucially, both of these brain responses exhibited sensitivity to extralinguistic information and were significantly enhanced for phrases whose voice and grammatical gender were incongruent, similar to what is known for ERPs effects related to overt grammatical violations. Our data suggest a high degree of automaticity in processing extralinguistic information during spoken language comprehension which indicates existence of a rapid automatic syntactic integration mechanism sensitive to both linguistic and extralinguistic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alekseeva
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Andriy Myachykov
- Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Beatriz Bermudez-Margaretto
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Psicobiología y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Instituto de Integración en la Comunidad - INICO, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Yury Shtyrov
- Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience (CFIN), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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6
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Varella MAC, Štěrbová Z, Bártová K, Fisher ML, Valentova JV. Evolution of Artistic and Athletic Propensities: Testing of Intersexual Selection and Intrasexual Competition. Front Psychol 2022; 13:925862. [PMID: 35874330 PMCID: PMC9301230 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.925862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since Darwin proposed that human musicality evolved through sexual selection, empirical evidence has supported intersexual selection as one of the adaptive functions of artistic propensities. However, intrasexual competition has been overlooked. We tested their relative importance by investigating the relationship between the self-perceived talent/expertise in 16 artistic and 2 sports modalities and proxies of intersexual selection (i.e., mate value, mating and parenting efforts, sociosexuality, and number of sexual partners) and intrasexual competition (i.e., aggressiveness, intrasexual competitiveness) in heterosexuals. Participants were 82 Brazilian men, 166 Brazilian women, 146 Czech men, and 458 Czech women (Mage = 26.48, SD = 7.12). Factor analysis revealed five factors: Literary-arts (creative writing, humor, acting/theater/film, poetry, storytelling), Visual-arts (painting/drawing, sculpting, handcrafting, culinary arts, architecture design), Musical-arts (playing/instruments, singing, dance, whistling), Circus-arts (juggling, acrobatics), and Sports (individual, collective). Multivariate General Linear Model (GLM) showed more associations of the arts to intersexual selection in women and to intrasexual selection in men, and overall more relationships in women than in men. In women, literary and musical-arts were related to elevated inter- and intrasexual selections proxies, visual and circus-arts were related to elevated intersexual selection proxies, and sports were related to intrasexual selection proxies. In men, literary-arts and sports were related to elevated inter- and intrasexual selection proxies, musical-arts were related to intrasexual proxies, and circus-arts were related to intersexual proxies; visual-arts did not have predictors. Although present in both sexes, each sexual selection component has different relative importance in each sex. Artisticality functions to attract and maintain long/short-term partners, and to compete with mating rivals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zuzana Štěrbová
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Klára Bártová
- Department of Psychology and Life Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Chappuis C, Grandjean D. Set the tone: Trustworthy and dominant novel voices classification using explicit judgement and machine learning techniques. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267432. [PMID: 35767528 PMCID: PMC9242519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior research has established that valence-trustworthiness and power-dominance are the two main dimensions of voice evaluation at zero-acquaintance. These impressions shape many of our interactions and high-impact decisions, so it is crucial for many domains to understand this dynamic. Yet, the relationship between acoustical properties of novel voices and personality/attitudinal traits attributions remains poorly understood. The fundamental problem of understanding vocal impressions and relative decision-making is linked to the complex nature of the acoustical properties in voices. In order to disentangle this relationship, this study extends the line of research on the acoustical bases of vocal impressions in two ways. First, by attempting to replicate previous finding on the bi-dimensional nature of first impressions: using personality judgements and establishing a correspondence between acoustics and voice-first-impression (VFI) dimensions relative to sex (Study 1). Second (Study 2), by exploring the non-linear relationships between acoustical parameters and VFI by the means of machine learning models. In accordance with literature, a bi-dimensional projection comprising valence-trustworthiness and power-dominance evaluations is found to explain 80% of the VFI. In study 1, brighter (high center of gravity), smoother (low shimmers), and louder (high minimum intensity) voices reflected trustworthiness, while vocal roughness (harmonic to noise-ratio), energy in the high frequencies (Energy3250), pitch (Quantile 1, Quantile 5) and lower range of pitch values reflected dominance. In study 2, above chance classification of vocal profiles was achieved by both Support Vector Machine (77.78%) and Random-Forest (Out-Of-Bag = 36.14) classifiers, generally confirming that machine learning algorithms could predict first impressions from voices. Hence results support a bi-dimensional structure to VFI, emphasize the usefulness of machine learning techniques in understanding vocal impressions, and shed light on the influence of sex on VFI formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyrielle Chappuis
- Neuroscience of Emotion and Affective Dynamics Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Didier Grandjean
- Neuroscience of Emotion and Affective Dynamics Lab, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences and Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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8
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Davis AC, Arnocky S. Darwin Versus Wallace: Esthetic Evolution and Preferential Mate Choice. Front Psychol 2022; 13:862385. [PMID: 35693523 PMCID: PMC9174777 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.862385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominant theorizing and research surrounding the operation of intersexual selection in evolutionary psychology tends to be guided by an adaptationist framework and aligned with models of sexual selection involving direct benefits (e.g., parental care) and indirect “good gene” and condition-dependent benefits. In this way, evolutionary psychologists more often espouse Alfred Russel Wallaces’ utilitarian viewpoint that traits become attractive because they honestly signal vigor and vitality, which gives priority to natural selection. In doing so, Darwin’s esthetic perspective originally articulated in The Descent of Man and alternative models of sexual selection (e.g., Fisherian runaway), are given less consideration. This is despite some informative reviews on the topic in evolutionary psychology. In the current conceptual analysis, we discuss the potential of Prum’s Lande-Kirkpatrick (LK) null model of sexual selection to help make sense of some of the mixed evidence regarding the links between attractive traits and purported markers of phenotypic and genetic condition. We then consider how the implications of the LK null model can help to shift theoretical assumptions and guide future work in evolutionary psychology on intersexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Davis
- Human Evolution Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Arnocky
- Human Evolution Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
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9
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Hughes SM, Puts DA. Vocal modulation in human mating and competition. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200388. [PMID: 34719246 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human voice is dynamic, and people modulate their voices across different social interactions. This article presents a review of the literature examining natural vocal modulation in social contexts relevant to human mating and intrasexual competition. Altering acoustic parameters during speech, particularly pitch, in response to mating and competitive contexts can influence social perception and indicate certain qualities of the speaker. For instance, a lowered voice pitch is often used to exert dominance, display status and compete with rivals. Changes in voice can also serve as a salient medium for signalling a person's attraction to another, and there is evidence to support the notion that attraction and/or romantic interest can be distinguished through vocal tones alone. Individuals can purposely change their vocal behaviour in attempt to sound more attractive and to facilitate courtship success. Several findings also point to the effectiveness of vocal change as a mechanism for communicating relationship status. As future studies continue to explore vocal modulation in the arena of human mating, we will gain a better understanding of how and why vocal modulation varies across social contexts and its impact on receiver psychology. This article is part of the theme issue 'Voice modulation: from origin and mechanism to social impact (Part I)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Hughes
- Psychology Department, Albright College, Reading, PA 19612, USA
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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10
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Stehr DA, Hickok G, Ferguson SH, Grossman ED. Examining vocal attractiveness through articulatory working space. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 150:1548. [PMID: 34470280 DOI: 10.1121/10.0005730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Robust gender differences exist in the acoustic correlates of clearly articulated speech, with females, on average, producing speech that is acoustically and phonetically more distinct than that of males. This study investigates the relationship between several acoustic correlates of clear speech and subjective ratings of vocal attractiveness. Talkers were recorded producing vowels in /bVd/ context and sentences containing the four corner vowels. Multiple measures of working vowel space were computed from continuously sampled formant trajectories and were combined with measures of speech timing known to co-vary with clear articulation. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) modeling was used to predict ratings of vocal attractiveness for male and female talkers based on the acoustic measures. PLS components that loaded on size and shape measures of working vowel space-including the quadrilateral vowel space area, convex hull area, and bivariate spread of formants-along with measures of speech timing were highly successful at predicting attractiveness in female talkers producing /bVd/ words. These findings are consistent with a number of hypotheses regarding human attractiveness judgments, including the role of sexual dimorphism in mate selection, the significance of traits signalling underlying health, and perceptual fluency accounts of preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Stehr
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, 3151 Social Sciences Plaza, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Gregory Hickok
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, 3151 Social Sciences Plaza, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - Sarah Hargus Ferguson
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Utah, 390 South 1530 East, Room 1201, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Emily D Grossman
- Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California Irvine, 3151 Social Sciences Plaza, Irvine, California 92697, USA
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Kruger DJ. Phenotypic Mimicry Distinguishes Cues of Mating Competition From Paternal Investment in Men's Conspicuous Consumption. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2021; 48:396-411. [PMID: 33858239 DOI: 10.1177/01461672211007229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary psychologists propose that men's conspicuous consumption facilitates mate attraction because it predicts resource investment in offspring. This article elaborates on the ultimate functions of men's luxury displays based on Life History Theory. Three studies provide evidence for phenotypic mimicry, in which consumer product features mimicking male secondary sex characteristics indicate investment in mating competition, at the expense of paternal investment. Men owning shirts with larger luxury brand logos were rated higher on mating effort, lower on parental investment, higher on interest in brief sexual affairs, lower on interest in long-term committed romantic relationships, higher in attractiveness to women for brief sexual affairs, lower in attractiveness to women for long-term committed relationships, and higher in developmental environment unpredictability compared with men owning shirts displaying a smaller logo. Participants recognized the strategic use of luxury display properties across social contexts but did not consistently associate product properties with owners' physiological characteristics.
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12
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Albert G, Arnocky S, Puts DA, Hodges-Simeon CR. Can listeners assess men's self-reported health from their voice? EVOL HUM BEHAV 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Zhang J, Zheng L. Masculine Voices Predict Attachment Style and Relationship Communication Patterns in Romantic Relationships. JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY 2021; 47:262-269. [PMID: 33403924 DOI: 10.1080/0092623x.2020.1869125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Humans exhibit sexually-based vocal dimorphisms, providing information about peoples' intrinsic states. Studies indicate that voice pitch predicts relationship quality; however, none have explored its effects on relationship maintenance. We explored the association between sexually dimorphic vocal properties [voice pitch, measured by fundamental frequency (F0) and F0 variation, the within-subject SD in F0 across the utterance (F0-SD)], attachment styles, and communication patterns among Chinese heterosexuals in romantic relationships. Men's F0-SD positively correlates with constructive communication pattern and negatively correlates with avoidant attachment style. No significant correlations are found for women. These findings suggest that men with masculine voices are more avoidantly attached, using avoidant communications. Furthermore, they show that voice may play a crucial role in and be an important morphological index of human mating relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- School of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lijun Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Zhang J, Zheng L, Zhang S, Xu W, Zheng Y. Vocal characteristics predict infidelity intention and relationship commitment in men but not in women. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Schild C, Aung T, Kordsmeyer TL, Cardenas RA, Puts DA, Penke L. Linking human male vocal parameters to perceptions, body morphology, strength and hormonal profiles in contexts of sexual selection. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21296. [PMID: 33277544 PMCID: PMC7719159 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77940-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection appears to have shaped the acoustic signals of diverse species, including humans. Deep, resonant vocalizations in particular may function in attracting mates and/or intimidating same-sex competitors. Evidence for these adaptive functions in human males derives predominantly from perception studies in which vocal acoustic parameters were manipulated using specialist software. This approach affords tight experimental control but provides little ecological validity, especially when the target acoustic parameters vary naturally with other parameters. Furthermore, such experimental studies provide no information about what acoustic variables indicate about the speaker-that is, why attention to vocal cues may be favored in intrasexual and intersexual contexts. Using voice recordings with high ecological validity from 160 male speakers and biomarkers of condition, including baseline cortisol and testosterone levels, body morphology and strength, we tested a series of pre-registered hypotheses relating to both perceptions and underlying condition of the speaker. We found negative curvilinear and negative linear relationships between male fundamental frequency (fo) and female perceptions of attractiveness and male perceptions of dominance. In addition, cortisol and testosterone negatively interacted in predicting fo, and strength and measures of body size negatively predicted formant frequencies (Pf). Meta-analyses of the present results and those from two previous samples confirmed that fonegatively predicted testosterone only among men with lower cortisol levels. This research offers empirical evidence of possible evolutionary functions for attention to men's vocal characteristics in contexts of sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Schild
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Toe Aung
- Department of Anthropology and Center for Brain, Behavior and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Tobias L Kordsmeyer
- Department of Psychology and Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, University of Goettingen, Gosslerstrasse 14, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rodrigo A Cardenas
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology and Center for Brain, Behavior and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Lars Penke
- Department of Psychology and Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, University of Goettingen, Gosslerstrasse 14, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
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16
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Aung T, Puts D. Voice pitch: a window into the communication of social power. Curr Opin Psychol 2020; 33:154-161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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17
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Valentova JV, Tureček P, Varella MAC, Šebesta P, Mendes FDC, Pereira KJ, Kubicová L, Stolařová P, Havlíček J. Vocal Parameters of Speech and Singing Covary and Are Related to Vocal Attractiveness, Body Measures, and Sociosexuality: A Cross-Cultural Study. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2029. [PMID: 31695631 PMCID: PMC6817625 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Perceived vocal attractiveness and measured sex-dimorphic vocal parameters are both associated with underlying individual qualities. Research tends to focus on speech but singing is another highly evolved communication system that has distinct and universal features with analogs in other species, and it is relevant in mating. Both speaking and singing voice provides relevant information about its producer. We tested whether speech and singing function as "backup signals" that indicate similar underlying qualities. Using a sample of 81 men and 86 women from Brazil and the Czech Republic, we investigated vocal attractiveness rated from speech and singing and its association with fundamental frequency (F0), apparent vocal tract length (VTL), body characteristics, and sociosexuality. F0, VTL, and rated attractiveness of singing and speaking voice strongly correlated within the same individual. Lower-pitched speech in men, higher-pitched speech and singing in women, individuals who like to sing more, and singing of individuals with a higher pitch modulation were perceived as more attractive. In men, physical size positively predicted speech and singing attractiveness. Male speech but not singing attractiveness was associated with higher sociosexuality. Lower-pitched male speech was related to higher sociosexuality, while lower-pitched male singing was linked to lower sociosexuality. Similarly, shorter speech VTL and longer singing VTL predicted higher sociosexuality in women. Different vocal displays function as "backup signals" cueing to attractiveness and body size, but their relation to sexual strategies in men and women differs. Both singing and speech may indicate evolutionarily relevant individual qualities shaped by sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petr Tureček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Pavel Šebesta
- Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Kamila Janaina Pereira
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lydie Kubicová
- Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | | | - Jan Havlíček
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Suire A, Raymond M, Barkat-Defradas M. Male Vocal Quality and Its Relation to Females' Preferences. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2019; 17:1474704919874675. [PMID: 31564128 PMCID: PMC10367192 DOI: 10.1177/1474704919874675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In both correlational and experimental settings, studies on women's vocal preferences have reported negative relationships between perceived attractiveness and men's vocal pitch, emphasizing the idea of an adaptive preference. However, such consensus on vocal attractiveness has been mostly conducted with native English speakers, but a few evidence suggest that it may be culture-dependent. Moreover, other overlooked acoustic components of vocal quality, such as intonation, perceived breathiness and roughness, may influence vocal attractiveness. In this context, the present study aims to contribute to the literature by investigating vocal attractiveness in an underrepresented language (i.e., French) as well as shedding light on its relationship with understudied acoustic components of vocal quality. More specifically, we investigated the relationships between attractiveness ratings as assessed by female raters and male voice pitch, its variation, the formants' dispersion and position, and the harmonics-to-noise and jitter ratios. Results show that women were significantly more attracted to lower vocal pitch and higher intonation patterns. However, they did not show any directional preferences for all the other acoustic features. We discuss our results in light of the adaptive functions of vocal preferences in a mate choice context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Suire
- ISEM, University Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Michel Raymond
- ISEM, University Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
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A house of cards: bias in perception of body size mediates the relationship between voice pitch and perceptions of dominance. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Suire A, Raymond M, Barkat-Defradas M. Human vocal behavior within competitive and courtship contexts and its relation to mating success. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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21
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Arnocky S, Hodges-Simeon CR, Ouellette D, Albert G. Do men with more masculine voices have better immunocompetence? EVOL HUM BEHAV 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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22
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Mahrholz G, Belin P, McAleer P. Judgements of a speaker's personality are correlated across differing content and stimulus type. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204991. [PMID: 30286148 PMCID: PMC6171871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It has previously been shown that first impressions of a speaker's personality, whether accurate or not, can be judged from short utterances of vowels and greetings, as well as from prolonged sentences and readings of complex paragraphs. From these studies, it is established that listeners' judgements are highly consistent with one another, suggesting that different people judge personality traits in a similar fashion, with three key personality traits being related to measures of valence (associated with trustworthiness), dominance, and attractiveness. Yet, particularly in voice perception, limited research has established the reliability of such personality judgements across stimulus types of varying lengths. Here we investigate whether first impressions of trustworthiness, dominance, and attractiveness of novel speakers are related when a judgement is made on hearing both one word and one sentence from the same speaker. Secondly, we test whether what is said, thus adjusting content, influences the stability of personality ratings. 60 Scottish voices (30 females) were recorded reading two texts: one of ambiguous content and one with socially-relevant content. One word (~500 ms) and one sentence (~3000 ms) were extracted from each recording for each speaker. 181 participants (138 females) rated either male or female voices across both content conditions (ambiguous, socially-relevant) and both stimulus types (word, sentence) for one of the three personality traits (trustworthiness, dominance, attractiveness). Pearson correlations showed personality ratings between words and sentences were strongly correlated, with no significant influence of content. In short, when establishing an impression of a novel speaker, judgments of three key personality traits are highly related whether you hear one word or one sentence, irrespective of what they are saying. This finding is consistent with initial personality judgments serving as elucidators of approach or avoidance behaviour, without modulation by time or content. All data and sounds are available on OSF (osf.io/s3cxy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaby Mahrholz
- School of Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Pascal Belin
- Institut des Neurosciences de la Timone, UMR 7289, CNRS and Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Phil McAleer
- School of Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Albert G, Pearson M, Arnocky S, Wachowiak M, Nicol J, Murphy DR. Effects of Masculinized and Feminized Male Voices on Men and Women’s Distractibility and Implicit Memory. JOURNAL OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1027/1614-0001/a000259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. Men’s lower-pitched voices may serve to attract mates and/or deter same-sex rivals. If this is the case, then both men and women should be more attentive to men’s lower-pitched voices because, attending to this information may contribute to survival or confer a reproductive advantage. The current study measured men and women’s distractibility and implicit memory for sentences spoken by a masculinized (lower-pitched) and feminized (higher-pitched) male voice. Participants completed an irrelevant speech task followed by an implicit memory task to assess their memory for previously presented irrelevant speech. In the irrelevant speech task, distractibility did not differ between men and women. However, men demonstrated greater implicit memory for sentences previously spoken by the masculinized male voice, and women demonstrated greater implicit memory for sentences previously spoken by the feminized male voice. These results suggest men may have an increased sensitivity to dominance cues in other men’s voices. Reasons why men demonstrated greater implicit memory for sentences spoken by a masculinized man’s voice and why women demonstrated a trend toward greater implicit memory for sentences spoken by a feminized man’s voice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Albert
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Marlena Pearson
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Arnocky
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Mark Wachowiak
- Departments of Computer Science and Math, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Nicol
- Department of Psychology, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
| | - Dana R. Murphy
- Department of Psychology, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada
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Winegard B, Winegard B, Geary DC. The Status Competition Model of Cultural Production. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-018-0147-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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25
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Perceived differences in social status between speaker and listener affect the speaker's vocal characteristics. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179407. [PMID: 28614413 PMCID: PMC5470693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-verbal behaviours, including voice characteristics during speech, are an important way to communicate social status. Research suggests that individuals can obtain high social status through dominance (using force and intimidation) or through prestige (by being knowledgeable and skilful). However, little is known regarding differences in the vocal behaviour of men and women in response to dominant and prestigious individuals. Here, we tested within-subject differences in vocal parameters of interviewees during simulated job interviews with dominant, prestigious, and neutral employers (targets), while responding to questions which were classified as introductory, personal, and interpersonal. We found that vocal modulations were apparent between responses to the neutral and high-status targets, with participants, especially those who perceived themselves as low in dominance, increasing fundamental frequency (F0) in response to the dominant and prestigious targets relative to the neutral target. Self-perceived prestige, however, was less related to contextual vocal modulations than self-perceived dominance. Finally, we found that differences in the context of the interview questions participants were asked to respond to (introductory, personal, interpersonal), also affected their vocal parameters, being more prominent in responses to personal and interpersonal questions. Overall, our results suggest that people adjust their vocal parameters according to the perceived social status of the listener as well as their own self-perceived social status.
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Pavela Banai I, Banai B, Bovan K. Vocal characteristics of presidential candidates can predict the outcome of actual elections. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Abstract
Studies have found positive correlations between prenatal exposure to testosterone and masculinization of offspring traits, particularly among females. The present study sought to determine if physical or sexual activity by the mother during pregnancy was related to masculinized/defeminized offspring traits in adulthood. Data were obtained from a large sample of North American college students (offspring) and their mothers. Information about maternal activity levels during pregnancy were reported retrospectively by each mother. The offspring provided self-ratings of various sexually dimorphic traits. Several significant correlations were found. By and large, as maternal physical activity increased, feminine mannerisms decreased and masculine mannerisms increased in the offspring, particularly for females. Maternal physical activity was also associated with increased upper- and lower-body strength and especially with adult height among offspring. Sexual activity by the mother was only associated with upper-body strength and adult height, particularly of the female offspring. Several sexually dimorphic physical traits in offspring are associated with maternal activity levels during pregnancy. Prenatal testosterone is almost certainly involved. The associations could either reflect genetic influences (given that prenatal testosterone is highly heritable) or an effect of maternal testosterone being transferred to the developing fetus. More research is needed to assess the relative merit of these two possibilities.
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Berg M, Fuchs M, Wirkner K, Loeffler M, Engel C, Berger T. The Speaking Voice in the General Population: Normative Data and Associations to Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors. J Voice 2016; 31:257.e13-257.e24. [PMID: 27370073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Normative data concerning the speaking voice in the general population were gathered with the aim to establish standard values for clinical diagnostics. Associations between the speaking voice and sociodemographic factors were examined. STUDY DESIGN This is a prospective cross-sectional population-based study. METHODS Speaking voice profiles were measured for 2472 (1154 male and 1318 female) participants between the ages of 40 and 79 years, using four speaking voice intensity levels: softest speaking voice (I), conversational voice (II), classroom voice (III), and shouting voice (IV). Smoking status and socioeconomic status were assessed. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS The mean voice frequencies were 111.8 Hz for male and 161.3 Hz for female participants (I), 111.9 Hz for male and 168.5 Hz for female participants (II), 130.2 Hz for male and 198.0 Hz for female participants (III), and 175.5 Hz for male and 246.2 Hz for female participants (IV). Frequencies increased significantly with age for male but not for female participants. Sound pressure levels rose significantly with age at intensity levels I-III for both sexes, but decreased at intensity level IV. Frequencies and sound pressure levels were similar between nonsmokers and former smokers. Current smokers showed significantly lower frequencies as opposed to non- and former smokers. Speaking voice range and dynamics increased with higher socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS The data are suitable as age-adjusted normative values for clinical measurement of the speaking voice. The mean fundamental speaking voice frequency of female participants was six to seven semitones lower than previously described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Berg
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Section of Phoniatrics and Audiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Fuchs
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Section of Phoniatrics and Audiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kerstin Wirkner
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Loeffler
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christoph Engel
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics, and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Berger
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Section of Phoniatrics and Audiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Pisanski K, Jones BC, Fink B, O'Connor JJ, DeBruine LM, Röder S, Feinberg DR. Voice parameters predict sex-specific body morphology in men and women. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Jeffery AJ, Pham MN, Shackelford TK, Fink B. Does human ejaculate quality relate to phenotypic traits? Am J Hum Biol 2015; 28:318-29. [PMID: 26626022 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A given man's phenotype embodies cues of his ancestral ability to effectively defend himself and his kin from harm, to survive adverse conditions, and to acquire status and mating opportunities. In this review, we explore the hypothesis that a man's phenotype also embodies cues to fertility or the probability that an ejaculate will fertilize ova. Female mate choice depends on the ability to discern the quality of a male reproductive partner through his phenotype, and male fertility may be among the traits that females have evolved to detect. A female who selects as mates males that deliver higher quality ejaculates will, on average, be more fecund than her competitors. Data on several non-human species demonstrate correlations between ejaculate quality and secondary sexual characteristics that inform female mate choice, suggesting that females may select mates in part on the basis of fertility. While the non-human literature on this topic has advanced, the human literature remains limited in scope and there is no clear consensus on appropriate methodologies or theoretical positions. We provide a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of this literature, and conclude by proposing solutions to the many issues that impede progress in the field. In the process, we hope to encourage interest and insight from investigators in other areas of human mating and reproductive biology. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:318-329, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael N Pham
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, 48307
| | - Todd K Shackelford
- Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, 48307
| | - Bernhard Fink
- Institute of Psychology and Courant Research Center Evolution of Social Behavior, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Knowles KK, Little AC. Vocal fundamental and formant frequencies affect perceptions of speaker cooperativeness. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2015; 69:1657-75. [PMID: 26360784 DOI: 10.1080/17470218.2015.1091484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the perception of social traits in faces and voices has received much attention. Facial and vocal masculinity are linked to perceptions of trustworthiness; however, while feminine faces are generally considered to be trustworthy, vocal trustworthiness is associated with masculinized vocal features. Vocal traits such as pitch and formants have previously been associated with perceived social traits such as trustworthiness and dominance, but the link between these measurements and perceptions of cooperativeness have yet to be examined. In Experiment 1, cooperativeness ratings of male and female voices were examined against four vocal measurements: fundamental frequency (F0), pitch variation (F0-SD), formant dispersion (Df), and formant position (Pf). Feminine pitch traits (F0 and F0-SD) and masculine formant traits (Df and Pf) were associated with higher cooperativeness ratings. In Experiment 2, manipulated voices with feminized F0 were found to be more cooperative than voices with masculinized F0(,) among both male and female speakers, confirming our results from Experiment 1. Feminine pitch qualities may indicate an individual who is friendly and non-threatening, while masculine formant qualities may reflect an individual that is socially dominant or prestigious, and the perception of these associated traits may influence the perceived cooperativeness of the speakers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen K Knowles
- a School of Social and Political Science , University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , UK
| | - Anthony C Little
- b School of Natural Sciences , University of Stirling , Stirling , UK
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Doll LM, Cárdenas RA, Burriss RP, Puts DA. Sexual Selection and Life History: Earlier Recalled Puberty Predicts Men’s Phenotypic Masculinization. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-015-0031-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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33
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Hodges-Simeon CR, Gurven M, Gaulin SJ. The low male voice is a costly signal of phenotypic quality among Bolivian adolescents. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Abend P, Pflüger LS, Koppensteiner M, Coquerelle M, Grammer K. The sound of female shape: a redundant signal of vocal and facial attractiveness. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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35
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Puts DA, Pope LE, Hill AK, Cárdenas RA, Welling LLM, Wheatley JR, Marc Breedlove S. Fulfilling desire: evidence for negative feedback between men's testosterone, sociosexual psychology, and sexual partner number. Horm Behav 2015; 70:14-21. [PMID: 25644313 PMCID: PMC4409524 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Across human societies and many nonhuman animals, males have greater interest in uncommitted sex (more unrestricted sociosexuality) than do females. Testosterone shows positive associations with male-typical sociosexual behavior in nonhuman animals. Yet, it remains unclear whether the human sex difference in sociosexual psychology (attitudes and desires) is mediated by testosterone, whether any relationships between testosterone and sociosexuality differ between men and women, and what the nature of these possible relationships might be. In studies to resolve these questions, we examined relationships between salivary testosterone concentrations and sociosexual psychology and behavior in men and women. We measured testosterone in all men in our sample, but only in those women taking oral contraception (OC-using women) in order to reduce the influence of ovulatory cycle variation in ovarian hormone production. We found that OC-using women did not differ from normally-ovulating women in sociosexual psychology or behavior, but that circulating testosterone mediated the sex difference in human sociosexuality and predicted sociosexual psychology in men but not OC-using women. Moreover, when sociosexual psychology was controlled, men's sociosexual behavior (number of sexual partners) was negatively related to testosterone, suggesting that testosterone drives sociosexual psychology in men and is inhibited when those desires are fulfilled. This more complex relationship between androgens and male sexuality may reconcile some conflicting prior reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Behavior, Brain, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Lauramarie E Pope
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Alexander K Hill
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rodrigo A Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Lisa L M Welling
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - John R Wheatley
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Lemasson A, Remeuf K, Trabalon M, Cuir F, Hausberger M. Mares prefer the voices of highly fertile stallions. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118468. [PMID: 25714814 PMCID: PMC4340864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the possibility that stallion whinnies, known to encode caller size, also encoded information about caller arousal and fertility, and the reactions of mares in relation to type of voice. Voice acoustic features are correlated with arousal and reproduction success, the lower-pitched the stallion's voice, the slower his heart beat and the higher his fertility. Females from three study groups preferred playbacks of low-pitched voices. Hence, females are attracted by frequencies encoding for large male size, calmness and high fertility. More work is needed to explore the relative importance of morpho-physiological features. Assortative mating may be involved as large females preferred voices of larger stallions. Our study contributes to basic and applied ongoing research on mammal reproduction, and questions the mechanisms used by females to detect males' fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alban Lemasson
- Université de Rennes 1, Laboratoire d’éthologie animale et humaine, UMR 6552- C.N.R.S., Paimpont, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | - Kévin Remeuf
- Université de Rennes 1, Laboratoire d’éthologie animale et humaine, UMR 6552- C.N.R.S., Paimpont, France
| | - Marie Trabalon
- Université de Rennes 1, Laboratoire d’éthologie animale et humaine, UMR 6552- C.N.R.S., Paimpont, France
| | | | - Martine Hausberger
- C.N.R.S., Laboratoire d’éthologie animale et humaine, UMR 6552- Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
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Chen BB, Chang L. Creativity and Aggression as Ornament and Armament: Intersexual and Intrasexual Selection on Men's Mating Behaviors. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2015; 13:147470491501300. [DOI: 10.1177/147470491501300118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In three studies, we tested the hypothesis that men respond to intersexual and intrasexual selection by facultatively choosing between weapon-like and ornament-like behaviors. In the first two studies, we manipulated intersexual and intrasexual selection by having male participants take part in a simulated dating game (Study 1) or imagine having a date (Study 2). In both studies, participants were told either that the target female would choose her date (intersexual) or that male suitors would nominate one another (intrasexual). Under the intersexual selection condition, men demonstrated increased creativity levels and decreased aggression levels, whereas the opposite pattern was observed under the intrasexual selection condition. Study 3 showed that individual differences in creativity and aggression as personality traits similarly predicted intrasexual and intersexual mating strategies, respectively. These extend existing evolutionary mating research by specifying the mechanism of intrasexual or intersexual selection in shaping men's weapon-like or ornament-like situational response and personality development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Bin Chen
- Department of Psychology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Chang
- Department of Psychological Studies, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, China; Department of Social Psychology, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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38
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Junger J, Habel U, Bröhr S, Neulen J, Neuschaefer-Rube C, Birkholz P, Kohler C, Schneider F, Derntl B, Pauly K. More than just two sexes: the neural correlates of voice gender perception in gender dysphoria. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111672. [PMID: 25375171 PMCID: PMC4222943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Gender dysphoria (also known as “transsexualism”) is characterized as a discrepancy between anatomical sex and gender identity. Research points towards neurobiological influences. Due to the sexually dimorphic characteristics of the human voice, voice gender perception provides a biologically relevant function, e.g. in the context of mating selection. There is evidence for a better recognition of voices of the opposite sex and a differentiation of the sexes in its underlying functional cerebral correlates, namely the prefrontal and middle temporal areas. This fMRI study investigated the neural correlates of voice gender perception in 32 male-to-female gender dysphoric individuals (MtFs) compared to 20 non-gender dysphoric men and 19 non-gender dysphoric women. Participants indicated the sex of 240 voice stimuli modified in semitone steps in the direction to the other gender. Compared to men and women, MtFs showed differences in a neural network including the medial prefrontal gyrus, the insula, and the precuneus when responding to male vs. female voices. With increased voice morphing men recruited more prefrontal areas compared to women and MtFs, while MtFs revealed a pattern more similar to women. On a behavioral and neuronal level, our results support the feeling of MtFs reporting they cannot identify with their assigned sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Junger
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Jülich Aachen Research Alliance-Translational Brain Medicine, Jülich, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Ute Habel
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Jülich Aachen Research Alliance-Translational Brain Medicine, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sabine Bröhr
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Josef Neulen
- Department of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christiane Neuschaefer-Rube
- Department of Phoniatrics, Pedaudiology and Communication Disorders, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Birkholz
- Department of Phoniatrics, Pedaudiology and Communication Disorders, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Kohler
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry Division, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Frank Schneider
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Jülich Aachen Research Alliance-Translational Brain Medicine, Jülich, Germany
| | - Birgit Derntl
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Jülich Aachen Research Alliance-Translational Brain Medicine, Jülich, Germany
| | - Katharina Pauly
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Jülich Aachen Research Alliance-Translational Brain Medicine, Jülich, Germany
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Skrinda I, Krama T, Kecko S, Moore FR, Kaasik A, Meija L, Lietuvietis V, Rantala MJ, Krams I. Body height, immunity, facial and vocal attractiveness in young men. Naturwissenschaften 2014; 101:1017-25. [PMID: 25326093 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-014-1241-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Health, facial and vocal attributes and body height of men may affect a diverse range of social outcomes such as attractiveness to potential mates and competition for resources. Despite evidence that each parameter plays a role in mate choice, the relative role of each and inter-relationships between them, is still poorly understood. In this study, we tested relationships both between these parameters and with testosterone and immune function. We report positive relationships between testosterone with facial masculinity and attractiveness, and we found that facial masculinity predicted facial attractiveness and antibody response to a vaccine. Moreover, the relationship between antibody response to a hepatitis B vaccine and body height was found to be non-linear, with a positive relationship up to a height of 188 cm, but an inverse relationship in taller men. We found that vocal attractiveness was dependent upon vocal masculinity. The relationship between vocal attractiveness and body height was also non-linear, with a positive relationship of up to 178 cm, which then decreased in taller men. We did not find a significant relationship between body height and the fundamental frequency of vowel sounds provided by young men, while body height negatively correlated with the frequency of second formant. However, formant frequency was not associated with the strength of immune response. Our results demonstrate the potential of vaccination research to reveal costly traits that govern evolution of mate choice in humans and the importance of trade-offs among these traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Skrinda
- Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, 5401, Daugavpils, Latvia
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Cartei V, Bond R, Reby D. What makes a voice masculine: physiological and acoustical correlates of women's ratings of men's vocal masculinity. Horm Behav 2014; 66:569-76. [PMID: 25169905 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Men's voices contain acoustic cues to body size and hormonal status, which have been found to affect women's ratings of speaker size, masculinity and attractiveness. However, the extent to which these voice parameters mediate the relationship between speakers' fitness-related features and listener's judgments of their masculinity has not yet been investigated. We audio-recorded 37 adult heterosexual males performing a range of speech tasks and asked 20 adult heterosexual female listeners to rate speakers' masculinity on the basis of their voices only. We then used a two-level (speaker within listener) path analysis to examine the relationships between the physiological (testosterone, height), acoustic (fundamental frequency or F0, and resonances or ΔF) and perceptual dimensions (listeners' ratings) of speakers' masculinity. Overall, results revealed that male speakers who were taller and had higher salivary testosterone levels also had lower F0 and ΔF, and were in turn rated as more masculine. The relationship between testosterone and perceived masculinity was essentially mediated by F0, while that of height and perceived masculinity was partially mediated by both F0 and ΔF. These observations confirm that women listeners attend to sexually dimorphic voice cues to assess the masculinity of unseen male speakers. In turn, variation in these voice features correlate with speakers' variation in stature and hormonal status, highlighting the interdependence of these physiological, acoustic and perceptual dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Cartei
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK.
| | - Rod Bond
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK
| | - David Reby
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QH, UK
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Hodges-Simeon CR, Gurven M, Puts DA, Gaulin SJC. Vocal fundamental and formant frequencies are honest signals of threat potential in peripubertal males. Behav Ecol 2014; 25:984-988. [PMID: 25024638 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fundamental and formant frequencies influence perceived pitch and are sexually dimorphic in humans. The information content of these acoustic parameters can illuminate the forces of sexual selection shaping vocal sex differences as well as the mechanisms that ensure signal reliability. We use multiple regression to examine the relationships between somatic (height, adiposity, and strength) and acoustic (fundamental frequency [F0], formant position [Pf], and fundamental frequency variation [F0-SD]) characteristics in a sample of peripubertal Bolivian Tsimane. Results indicate that among males-but not females-strength is the strongest predictor of F0 and Pf and that F0 and Pf are independent predictors of strength when height and adiposity are controlled. These findings suggest that listeners may attend to vocal frequencies because they signal honest, nonredundant information about male strength and threat potential, which are strongly related to physical maturity and which cannot be ascertained from visual or other indicators of height or adiposity alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Gurven
- Department of Anthropology, University of California , Santa Barbara, CA 93106 , USA and
| | - David A Puts
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University , 218 Carpenter Building, University Park, PA 16802 , USA
| | - Steven J C Gaulin
- Department of Anthropology, University of California , Santa Barbara, CA 93106 , USA and
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Li Y, Gu F, Zhang X, Yang L, Chen L, Wei Z, Zha R, Wang Y, Li X, Zhou Y, Zhang X. Cerebral activity to opposite-sex voices reflected by event-related potentials. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94976. [PMID: 24727971 PMCID: PMC3984274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human voice is a gender discriminating cue and is important to mate selection. This study employed electrophysiological recordings to examine whether there is specific cerebral activity when presented with opposite-sex voices as compared to same-sex voices. Male voices and female voices were pseudo-randomly presented to male and female participants. In Experiment 1, participants were instructed to determine the gender of each voice. A late positivity (LP) response around 750 ms after voice onset was elicited by opposite-sex voices, as reflected by a positive deflection of the ERP to opposite-sex voices than that to same-sex voices. This LP response was prominent around parieto-occipital recording sites, and it suggests an opposite-sex specific process, which may reflect emotion- and/or reward-related cerebral activity. In Experiment 2, participants were instructed to press a key when hearing a non-voice pure tone and not give any response when they heard voice stimuli. In this task, no difference were found between the ERP to same-sex voices and that to opposite-sex voices, suggesting that the cerebral activity to opposite-sex voices may disappear without gender-related attention. These results provide significant implications on cognitive mechanisms with regard to opposite-sex specific voice processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Feng Gu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- * E-mail: (FG) (FG); (XCZ) (XZ)
| | - Xiliang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lizhuang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lijun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhengde Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rujing Zha
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ying Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yifeng Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaochu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- School of Humanities & Social Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- * E-mail: (FG) (FG); (XCZ) (XZ)
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How Well Do Men’s Faces and Voices Index Mate Quality and Dominance? HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2014; 25:200-12. [DOI: 10.1007/s12110-014-9194-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Mayew WJ, Parsons CA, Venkatachalam M. Voice pitch and the labor market success of male chief executive officers. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Wells T, Baguley T, Sergeant M, Dunn A. Perceptions of human attractiveness comprising face and voice cues. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2013; 42:805-811. [PMID: 23358855 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-012-0054-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2011] [Revised: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 09/22/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In human mate choice, sexually dimorphic faces and voices comprise hormone-mediated cues that purportedly develop as an indicator of mate quality or the ability to compete with same-sex rivals. If preferences for faces communicate the same biologically relevant information as do voices, then ratings of these cues should correlate. Sixty participants (30 male and 30 female) rated a series of opposite-sex faces, voices, and faces together with voices for attractiveness in a repeated measures computer-based experiment. The effects of face and voice attractiveness on face-voice compound stimuli were analyzed using a multilevel model. Faces contributed proportionally more than voices to ratings of face-voice compound attractiveness. Faces and voices positively and independently contributed to the attractiveness of male compound stimuli although there was no significant correlation between their rated attractiveness. A positive interaction and correlation between attractiveness was shown for faces and voices in relation to the attractiveness of female compound stimuli. Rather than providing a better estimate of a single characteristic, male faces and voices may instead communicate independent information that, in turn, provides a female with a better assessment of overall mate quality. Conversely, female faces and voices together provide males with a more accurate assessment of a single dimension of mate quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Wells
- Department of Psychology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 2AX, UK.
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Arnocky S, Sunderani S, Vaillancourt T. Mate-poaching and mating success in humans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1556/jep.11.2013.2.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Junger J, Pauly K, Bröhr S, Birkholz P, Neuschaefer-Rube C, Kohler C, Schneider F, Derntl B, Habel U. Sex matters: Neural correlates of voice gender perception. Neuroimage 2013; 79:275-87. [PMID: 23660030 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.04.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The basis for different neural activations in response to male and female voices as well as the question, whether men and women perceive male and female voices differently, has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the behavioral and neural correlates of gender-related voice perception in healthy male and female volunteers. fMRI data were collected while 39 participants (19 female) were asked to indicate the gender of 240 voice stimuli. These stimuli included recordings of 3-syllable nouns as well as the same recordings pitch-shifted in 2, 4 and 6 semitone steps in the direction of the other gender. Data analysis revealed a) equal voice discrimination sensitivity in men and women but better performance in the categorization of opposite-sex stimuli at least in men, b) increased responses to increasing gender ambiguity in the mid cingulate cortex and bilateral inferior frontal gyri, and c) stronger activation in a fronto-temporal neural network in response to voices of the opposite sex. Our results indicate a gender specific processing for male and female voices on a behavioral and neuronal level. We suggest that our results reflect higher sensitivity probably due to the evolutionary relevance of voice perception in mate selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Junger
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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