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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
general
Changes in women's facial skin color over the ovulatory cycle are not detectable by the human visual system
PLoS ONE, Volume 10, No. 7, Article e0130093, Year 2015
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Description
Human ovulation is not advertised, as it is in several primate species, by conspicuous sexual swellings. However, there is increasing evidence that the attractiveness of women's body odor, voice, and facial appearance peak during the fertile phase of their ovulatory cycle. Cycle effects on facial attractiveness may be underpinned by changes in facial skin color, but it is not clear if skin color varies cyclically in humans or if any changes are detectable. To test these questions we photographed women daily for at least one cycle. Changes in facial skin redness and luminance were then quantified by mapping the digital images to human long, medium, and shortwave visual receptors. We find cyclic variation in skin redness, but not luminance. Redness decreases rapidly after menstrual onset, increases in the days before ovulation, and remains high through the luteal phase. However, we also show that this variation is unlikely to be detectable by the human visual system. We conclude that changes in skin color are not responsible for the effects of the ovulatory cycle on women's attractiveness. © 2015 Burriss et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Troscianko, Jolyon T.
United Kingdom, Exeter
University of Exeter
Fulford, Anthony J.C.
United Kingdom, London
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Stevens, Martin
United Kingdom, Exeter
University of Exeter
Saxton, Tamsin K.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Northumbria
Statistics
Citations: 34
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 7
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0130093
ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Female