Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels.
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...
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doaj-0d6fc898f9ca4b3bbf6210d68842109b2020-11-25T02:39:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01114e015308310.1371/journal.pone.0153083Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels.Carolyn R Hodges-SimeonKatherine N Hanson SobraskeTheodore SamoreMichael GurvenSteven J C GaulinFacial 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.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4831733?pdf=render |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Carolyn R Hodges-Simeon Katherine N Hanson Sobraske Theodore Samore Michael Gurven Steven J C Gaulin |
spellingShingle |
Carolyn R Hodges-Simeon Katherine N Hanson Sobraske Theodore Samore Michael Gurven Steven J C Gaulin Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Carolyn R Hodges-Simeon Katherine N Hanson Sobraske Theodore Samore Michael Gurven Steven J C Gaulin |
author_sort |
Carolyn R Hodges-Simeon |
title |
Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels. |
title_short |
Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels. |
title_full |
Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels. |
title_fullStr |
Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Facial Width-To-Height Ratio (fWHR) Is Not Associated with Adolescent Testosterone Levels. |
title_sort |
facial width-to-height ratio (fwhr) is not associated with adolescent testosterone levels. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2016-01-01 |
description |
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. |
url |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4831733?pdf=render |
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