Abstract
Evolutionary theories of human mating suggest that both men and women are interested in the most attractive members of the opposite sex. However, men may be more likely than women to be motivated to act on these interests. The goal of this study is to investigate the neurophysiological correlates of these evolved psychological mechanisms relevant to human mate attraction. Electroencephalographic (EEG) event related brain potentials (ERPs) are used as the primary index of the influence of target facial attractiveness on neurobiological processing. Salivary testosterone levels are also assessed to determine the influence of mating-relevant hormones on these processes. Measures of personality and sociosexual orientation are included to identify the effects of psychosocial individual differences on neurobiological responsiveness to perceived attractiveness.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Jaime Tartar, Dr. Valerie Starratt, Dr. Glenn Scheyd
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-12-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2013 5:30 PM
The Neurophysiology of Attractiveness
Alvin Sherman Library
Evolutionary theories of human mating suggest that both men and women are interested in the most attractive members of the opposite sex. However, men may be more likely than women to be motivated to act on these interests. The goal of this study is to investigate the neurophysiological correlates of these evolved psychological mechanisms relevant to human mate attraction. Electroencephalographic (EEG) event related brain potentials (ERPs) are used as the primary index of the influence of target facial attractiveness on neurobiological processing. Salivary testosterone levels are also assessed to determine the influence of mating-relevant hormones on these processes. Measures of personality and sociosexual orientation are included to identify the effects of psychosocial individual differences on neurobiological responsiveness to perceived attractiveness.
