How Women's Voices Change During Their Menstrual Cycle
Author Information
Author(s): Janek S. Lobmaier, Wilhelm K. Klatt, Stefan R. Schweinberger
Primary Institution: University of Zurich
Hypothesis
Women alter their voices depending on the sex and attractiveness of the stimulus speaker's voice, and these changes are modulated by the current menstrual cycle phase.
Conclusion
The study found that women's voices change based on the attractiveness and sex of the interaction partner, but only during social interactions, not when reading sentences aloud.
Supporting Evidence
- Women spoke with a breathier voice when responding to attractive speakers.
- Vocal characteristics changed based on the menstrual cycle phase.
- Women showed higher frequencies in their voices when responding to attractive speakers.
Takeaway
Women change how they sound depending on who they're talking to, especially if they find that person attractive, but this only happens when they're in a social situation.
Methodology
The study recorded 42 women during two phases of their menstrual cycle while they reproduced sentences spoken by attractive and unattractive male and female speakers.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the specific regional dialects of participants and the artificial nature of the recording setup.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize beyond the specific demographic of Swiss-German speaking individuals, and the lack of real social interaction may limit the observed effects.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 19 to 35, all healthy and not using hormonal contraceptives.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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