Date of Award

4-6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Kevin Moore

Second Advisor

Dr. Nipun Chopra

Third Advisor

Dr. David Puts

Abstract

Vocal communication is essential for many forms of human interaction and discourse. As such, the human voice has been the subject of extensive scientific research in a variety of contexts, including that of potentially evolved characteristics. Researchers have long studied the various changes that occur in direct relation to hormonal shifts across the ovulatory cycle, but one particularly interesting facet of this research is the voice. There are numerous acoustic parameters that are highly socially salient, and thus an ideal means with which to study potential ovulatory cycle related changes. Studies of this subject additionally provide further insight into the extent to which human females have concealed ovulation, in contrast to many primates. This thesis first outlines the broad thematic topics and relevant research contributing to the evolutionary nature of acoustic parameter shifts across the ovulatory cycle. After this review, ongoing empirical work is outlined. In this study, we analyzed 31 vocal samples from across the cycle, and presented them to 306 participants to rate their perceptions of the voices in terms of attractiveness, friendliness, trustworthiness, and authoritativeness. We found significant correlations between pitch and each of the perceptual traits as well as variations in trustworthiness and attractiveness ratings by cycle phase. Further implications of these findings to historical and political perceptions of female leaders are considered as well as the pertinence to artificial intelligence and synthetic voice production.

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