Attractiveness of natural faces compared to computer constructed perfectly symmetrical faces

Int J Neurosci. 2007 Apr;117(4):423-31. doi: 10.1080/00207450600581928.

Abstract

Attractiveness of natural faces was compared to perfectly symmetrical faces constructed on the computer from digitized photographs, in order to assess the role of left-right symmetry in beauty assessment. Three different groups of participants viewed separate series of sequentially presented faces (natural faces, left-left, and right-right) and provided attractiveness ratings on a 5-point Likert scale. The results revealed statistically significant lower ratings for the computer constructed left-left and right-right compared to the natural faces. The discussion is in the context of a biological trend away from perfect symmetry in primates consequent to adaptive evolutionary alteration favoring functional asymmetry in the brain, perception, and face.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Affect
  • Beauty*
  • Computers
  • Face / anatomy & histology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Judgment / physiology*
  • Male
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods