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Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
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Deciphering faces: quantifiable visual cues to weight.

Vinet Coetzee1, Jingying Chen, David I Perrett

  • 1School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Mary's Quad, South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9JP, Scotland, UK. vc56@st-andrews.ac.uk

Perception
|March 23, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Facial measurements like width-to-height ratio predict body mass index (BMI). Observers use these facial cues to accurately judge perceived body weight in diverse faces.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary psychology
  • Human facial morphology
  • Perceptual science

Background:

  • Body weight influences mate selection, impacting perceived attractiveness and health.
  • Accurate weight judgments from faces occur, but the specific facial cues remain undefined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify quantifiable facial cues correlated with body mass index (BMI).
  • Determine if these facial cues are utilized in judging perceived body weight.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited diverse participants (Caucasian, African) to measure BMI and 2-D facial images.
  • Quantified facial metrics: width-to-height ratio, perimeter-to-area ratio, cheek-to-jaw-width ratio.
  • Assessed perceived weight from facial images by observers.

Main Results:

  • Facial width-to-height, perimeter-to-area, and cheek-to-jaw ratios correlated with BMI in males.
  • Width-to-height and cheek-to-jaw ratios correlated with BMI in females.
  • Observers used all three facial cues to judge weight across sexes and ethnicities.

Conclusions:

  • Specific facial geometric ratios are linked to body mass index.
  • These facial cues serve as a basis for judging perceived body weight in mate selection contexts.