Data from: Sexual selection on male vocal fundamental frequency in humans and other anthropoids

Here we show across anthropoids that sexual dimorphism in fundamental frequency (F0) increased during evolutionary transitions towards polygyny, and decreased during transitions towards monogamy. Surprisingly, humans exhibit greater F0 sexual dimorphism than any other ape. We also show that low-F0 vocalizations predict perceptions of men’s dominance and attractiveness, and predict hormone profiles (low cortisol and high testosterone) related to immune function.

These results suggest that low male F0 signals condition to competitors and mates, and evolved in male anthropoids in response to the intensity of mating competition.

Usage notes

Study 1 Data Primate species represented in Study 1, including the following data per sex for each: number of individuals and recordings, vocal fundamental frequency, body mass, habitat, and mating system, as well as sexual dimorphism (male/female) in vocal fundamental frequency Study 2 Data Participants represented in Study 2, including the following data for each: age, sex, ethnicity, ratings of attractiveness and dominance from voice recordings, duration of recordings, and acoustic parameters Study 3 Data Participants represented in Study 3, including the following data for each: sample, age, sex, saliva collection time, testosterone, cortisol, and vocal fundamental frequency