Authors
Steven Arnocky, Carolyn R Hodges-Simeon, Danielle Ouellette, Graham Albert
Publication date
2018/11/1
Journal
Evolution and Human Behavior
Volume
39
Issue
6
Pages
602-610
Publisher
Elsevier
Description
The human voice is often considered to be a secondary sexual characteristic that signals underlying information about the immunocompetence of the speaker (i.e. the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis; ICHH). However, no studies have yet shown a relationship between vocal characteristics and biomarkers of immune function or self-reported health. In a sample of 108 men, we examined correlations between masculine vocal characteristics [i.e. relatively low fundamental frequency (F0), low F0 variability (F0-SD), low formant position (Pf), and high vocal tract length (VTL)] in relation to salivary immunoglobulin-A (sIgA; a marker of mucosal immunity), testosterone (T), and well-validated measures of self-reported health status. Results showed that sIgA correlated with masculinized F0, Pf, and VTL. Self-report health correlated with masculinized Pf and VTL. Anticipated future health correlated negatively with F0 …
Total citations
2018201920202021202220232024211717871
Scholar articles
S Arnocky, CR Hodges-Simeon, D Ouellette, G Albert - Evolution and Human Behavior, 2018