Webb, Abigail LM and Hibbard, Paul B and O'Gorman, Rick (2018) Natural variation in female reproductive hormones does not affect contrast sensitivity. Royal Society Open Science, 5 (2). p. 171566. DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171566
Webb, Abigail LM and Hibbard, Paul B and O'Gorman, Rick (2018) Natural variation in female reproductive hormones does not affect contrast sensitivity. Royal Society Open Science, 5 (2). p. 171566. DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171566
Webb, Abigail LM and Hibbard, Paul B and O'Gorman, Rick (2018) Natural variation in female reproductive hormones does not affect contrast sensitivity. Royal Society Open Science, 5 (2). p. 171566. DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171566
Abstract
Evidence suggests that females experience adaptive shifts in facial preferences across the menstrual cycle. However, recent discussions and meta-analyses suggest that these findings are equivocal. A previously unexplored question is the extent to which shifts in female preferences are modulated by hormone-dependent changes occurring in low-level vision, such as visual sensitivity. This mechanistic approach has been a novel method for investigating the extent to which complex perceptual phenomena are driven by low-level versus higher-level perceptual processes. We investigated whether the contrast sensitivity function-an early dimension of vision-is also influenced by variation in female reproductive hormones. Visual contrast thresholds were measured for 1, 4 and 16 cycles/degree gratings during the ovulatory, luteal and menstrual phases of the menstrual cycle in naturally cycling women, and women using oral contraceptives. Male participants were tested at similar time intervals. Results showed that visual contrast sensitivity does not differ according to sex, or use of oral contraception, nor does it vary relative to hormonal shifts across the menstrual cycle. These findings suggest that shifts in female preferences are not driven by changes in visual sensitivity, and are therefore likely attributable to changes in higher-level perception or cognition.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | menstrual cycle; contrast sensitivity; cycle shift hypothesis |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Psychology, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 22 Mar 2018 11:43 |
Last Modified: | 07 Aug 2024 19:56 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/21738 |
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Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0