title: Menstrual cycle phase affects discrimination of infant cuteness.
abstract: Recent studies have shown that women are more sensitive than men to subtle cuteness differences in infant faces. It has been suggested that raised levels in estradiol and progesterone may be responsible for this advantage. We compared young women's sensitivity to computer-manipulated baby faces varying in cuteness. Thirty-six women were tested once during ovulation and once during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. In a two alternative forced-choice experiment, participants chose the baby which they thought was cuter (Task 1), younger (Task 2), or the baby that they would prefer to babysit (Task 3). Saliva samples to assess levels of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone were collected at each test session. During ovulation, women were more likely to choose the cuter baby than during the luteal phase, in all three tasks. These results suggest that cuteness discrimination may be driven by cyclic hormonal shifts. However none of the measured hormones were related to increased cuteness sensitivity. We speculate that other hormones than the ones measured here might be responsible for the increased sensitivity to subtle cuteness differences during ovulation.
authors: Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland; Center for Cognition, Learning and Memory, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: janek.lobmaier@psy.unibe.ch.
authors: Janek S
authors: JS
authors: Lobmaier
authors: Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland; Center for Cognition, Learning and Memory, University of Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: fabian.probst@psy.unibe.ch.
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Probst
authors: School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, UK. Electronic address: dp@st-andrews.ac.uk.
authors: David I
authors: DI
authors: Perrett
authors: Department of Psychology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: heinrichs@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Heinrichs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D010060:Ovulation / Q000523:psychology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Estradiol; Gonadal steroids; Infant cuteness discrimination; Infant–parent bonding; Kindchenschema; Menstrual cycle; Progesterone; Testosterone