User Login Signup Now
Username :
Password    :
Forgot Password?

Can ovulating women's brain recognise potential sex partner?

Washington, Nov 17

Women's preferences for 'manly' men are influenced by their menstrual cycles.

A new study by Kinsey Institute showed differences in brain activity as women considered masculinised and feminised male faces and whether the person was a potential sexual partner.

Researchers identified regions of the brain that responded more strongly to masculine faces and demonstrated that differences between masculinised and feminised faces appeared strongest when the women were closer to ovulating.

The study sheds light on the link between women's hormone levels and their brain responses to masculinized versus feminized male faces, potentially offering insights into female mate preferences, according to a Kinsey Institute release.

The current study points towards enhancements of both sensory discrimination and risk processing around ovulation in response to masculine faces as possible indicators of women's mate preferences.

"One area of the brain in which we observed a difference in activation in response to masculinised versus feminised faces . . . was the anterior cingulate cortex, a region involved in decision-making and the evaluation of potential reward and risk," said neuroscientist Heather Rupp, research fellow at the Kinsey Institute.

These fluctuating preferences are thought to reflect evolutionarily founded changes in women's reproductive priorities. Around the time of ovulation women prefer more masculinized faces -- faces with features that indicate high levels of testosterone.

The study was supported by National Institutes of Health.

The article will appear in January edition of Evolution and Human Behaviour.

Last updated on Nov 17th, 2008 at 15:34 pm IST--IANS

Enter Your Name and Email below and Post your comment
NameEmail:
Comment:

Other News Headlines

Ajmal Kasab belongs to Pakistan: Official sources
Islamabad, Jan 7

Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured during the Mumbai attacks, belongs to Pakistan, The News reported in its website Wednesday, quoting official sources.

Read Complete Story »
Science Congress calls for tackling food pressure, environment
Shillong, Jan 7

The 96th Indian Science Congress ended Wednesday at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Meghalaya with a call to the scientific community to see how they can tackle problems relating to environment, space and science education.

Read Complete Story »
Australia clinch a gripping Test despite Smith-Ntini heroics
Sydney, Jan 7

South African captain Graeme Smith peeled off the cast on his broken left hand to come out to join Makhaya Ntini in a gutsy bid to save the third cricket Test , but their resistance came to an end with ten balls still to be bowled and Australia snatched victory in a pulsating finish here Wednesday.

Read Complete Story »
Indian held for killing daughter-in-law in Toronto
Toronto, Jan 7

An Indian man has been arrested for killing his daughter-in-law in Mississauga near here.

Read Complete Story »
Recently Commented Articles

NGO trains 1,000 women to join politics
The media should STOP dividing the society on the basis of gender by promoting and publishing this...
Rohan on 07/01/09 at 05:46 pm

Priests, nun accused in Abhaya murder case given bail
This is unheard in a civilised society. Indian constitution says nobody should be deprived of his...
skylark on 06/01/09 at 09:17 pm

Priests, nun accused in Abhaya murder case given bail
I am horrified to read about the attrocities of the premium Indian Investigating agency on its on...
skylark on 06/01/09 at 09:16 pm

Now, T-10 Gully Cricket is here
sir registration ke bad ye kaise pata chale kya hare id par email ayeega ya phir phone kare...
talha on 06/01/09 at 08:17 pm

Now, T-10 Gully Cricket is here
hi Sir ,how are you sir, mara rigstirson nahi ho pa raha please Reg. reply dho...
Deepak Ranga on 06/01/09 at 09:53 am

Latest Forum Topics

New Year Resolution
Every new year I make a number of resolutions like I would quit smoking, find more time to spend...
03/01/09 at 11:47 am | 1 Comment(s)

ഒന്നു ചിരിക്കാന്‍
[quote='ramachandram_ktd' pid='664' dateline='1230718957'] മന്ഗ്ലിഷ് കൊള്ളാം,...
03/01/09 at 10:47 am | 2 Comment(s)

hai. ..
Dear Laly, Welcome to this circle of Malayalee friends. Hope to see you as an active...
03/01/09 at 10:45 am | 6 Comment(s)

Sister Abhaya Case - Finally justice??
@jesson.john - That was really funny...
03/01/09 at 10:34 am | 13 Comment(s)

എന്റെ പ്രണയം - Malayalam Poem, സുഹൃത്തിന്റെ വരികള്‍
My friend is a good poet, അവന്‍ കുറിച്ച ഏതാനും വരികള്‍ ഞാന്‍ ഇവിടെ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിക്കുന്നു. കവിത:...
02/01/09 at 12:08 pm | 1 Comment(s)

Happy New Year
എന്റെ എല്ലാ മലയാളി സുഹൃത്തുക്കള്‍ക്കും സന്തോഷവും സമൃദ്ധിയും നിറഞ്ഞ ഒരു പുതുവര്‍ഷം...
01/01/09 at 06:04 pm | 7 Comment(s)

New Year SMS's
ഒരു മലയാളം ആശംസാ വാചകം "പുതിയ ദിനം... പുതിയ വര്ഷം... പുതിയ തുടക്കം... പുതിയ പ്രതിക്ഷകള്‍.... ഈ...
31/12/08 at 03:56 pm | 1 Comment(s)

MaLLu RinGtones..
I had the first one with me. But the second ringtone is new. Very good one. Hope to see you upload...
31/12/08 at 12:27 am | 23 Comment(s)