title: Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels.
abstract: Facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR) has been proposed as a sexually dimorphic signal in humans that develops under the influence of pubertal testosterone (T); however, no studies have examined the association between fWHR and T during the phase in which facial growth is canalized--adolescence. In a sample of adolescent Tsimane males, we evaluate the relationship between T, known T-derived traits (i.e. strength and voice pitch), and craniofacial measurements. If fWHR variation derives from T's effect on craniofacial growth during adolescence, several predictions should be supported: 1) fWHR should increase with age as T increases, 2) fWHR should reflect adolescent T (rather than adult T per se), 3) fWHR should exhibit velocity changes during adolescence in parallel with the pubertal spurt in T, 4) fWHR should correlate with T after controlling for age and other potential confounds, and 5) fWHR should show strong associations with other T-derived traits. Only prediction 4 was observed. Additionally, we examined three alternative facial masculinity ratios: facial width/lower face height, cheekbone prominence, and facial width/full face height. In contrast to fWHR, all three alternative measures show a strong age-related trend and are associated with both T and T-dependent traits. Overall, our results question the status of fWHR as a sexually-selected signal of pubertal T and T-linked traits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hodges-Simeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Katherine N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Hanson Sobraske
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Samore
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gurven
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Steven J C
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gaulin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001838:Bolivia; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone