Factors Influencing Sexual Vocalization in Human Females

Prokop, Pavol

doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02018-4

Cited by 7 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…In addition, we found that longer sequences of pre-copulation calls were also followed by a higher probability of emission of the end-copulation call ( Figure 2 ). As in several primate species, females can vocalize during male ejaculation (e.g., van Lawick-Goodall 1968 ; Dixson et al 1975 ; Deputte and Goustard, 1980 ; Thompson-Handler et al 1984 ; O'Connell and Cowlishaw 1994 ; Todt et al 1995 ; reviewed in Maestripieri and Roney 2005 ; Brewer and Hendrie 2011 ; Dixson 2015 ; Prokop 2021 ), the timing of end-copulation call recorded in our females suggests that such call could be emitted in conjunction with ejaculation. These results confirm the proceptive function of pre-copulation calls ( Mori and Dunbar 1985 ; Moos-Heilen and Sossinka 1990 ; Roberts et al 2017 ) and unveil a more specific role of these calls that is prolonging the copula duration, thus ensuring its successful completion (Prediction 1 supported).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…Females from different non primate ( Drosophila sp. : Kerwin and von Philipsborn 2020 ; R. blythii : Emerson 1992 , Emerson and Boyd 1999 ) and primate species can emit vocalizations during male ejaculation (e.g., Old-World monkeys: Macaca fascicularis : Deputte and Goustard 1980 ; M. talapoin : Dixson et al 1975 ; Papio cynocephalus : O'Connell and Cowlishaw 1994 ; M. sylvanus : Todt et al 1995 ; African great apes: P. troglodytes : van Lawick-Goodall 1968 ; P. paniscus : Thompson-Handler et al 1984 ; reviewed in Maestripieri and Roney 2005 ; Dixson 2015 ; H. sapiens : Prokop 2021 ; Brewer and Hendrie 2011 ). Hence, the gelada end-copulation call may be a marker of completed copulation.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Inter-sexual multimodal communication during mating in wild geladas: the leading role of females

et al. 2021

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Female primates can emit vocalizations associated with mating that can function as honest signals of fertility. Here, we investigated the role of mating calls and visual signals in female geladas (Theropithecus gelada). Because females have a central role in the gelada society and seem to solicit sexual interactions, we answered whether they emit vocalizations in conjunction with gazing to increase mating success probability. Before and during copulations, females can emit pre-copulation calls and copulation calls. For the first time, we identified a new female vocalization emitted at the final stage of copulations (end-copulation call), possibly marking the occurrence of ejaculation. We found that longer pre-copulation call sequences were followed by both prolonged copulations and the presence of end-copulation calls, thus suggesting that females use pre-copulation calls to ensure successful copula completion. Moreover, we found that different combinations of female vocal types and gazing had different effects on male vocal behavior and motivation to complete the copula. The analysis of the vocal and visual signals revealed a complex inter-sexual multimodal chattering with the leading role of females in the signal exchange. Such chattering, led by females, modulates male sexual arousal, thus increasing the probability of the copula success.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

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confidence: 99%

Inter-sexual multimodal communication during mating in wild geladas: the leading role of females

et al. 2021

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“…Like other primates, humans are very vocal during copulations, at least in some cultures. Female sexual moans are attractive to males and appear to be produced voluntarily in order to please the partner ( Prokop, 2021 ), but listeners judge these vocalizations to indicate not only pleasure, but also physical effort, and the same applies to groans of pain ( Anikin & Persson, 2017 ). Many other cooperative activities also involve coordinated physical effort; in fact, one of the earliest theories of language evolution posited that speech itself arose in this context ( Fitch, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The honest sound of physical effort

Anikin

2023

PeerJ

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Acoustic correlates of physical effort are still poorly understood, even though effort is vocally communicated in a variety of contexts with crucial fitness consequences, including both confrontational and reproductive social interactions. In this study 33 lay participants spoke during a brief, but intense isometric hold (L-sit), first without any voice-related instructions, and then asked either to conceal their effort or to imitate it without actually performing the exercise. Listeners in two perceptual experiments then rated 383 recordings on perceived level of effort (n = 39 listeners) or categorized them as relaxed speech, actual effort, pretended effort, or concealed effort (n = 102 listeners). As expected, vocal effort increased compared to baseline, but the accompanying acoustic changes (increased loudness, pitch, and tense voice quality) were under voluntary control, so that they could be largely suppressed or imitated at will. In contrast, vocal tremor at approximately 10 Hz was most pronounced under actual load, and its experimental addition to relaxed baseline recordings created the impression of concealed effort. In sum, a brief episode of intense physical effort causes pronounced vocal changes, some of which are difficult to control. Listeners can thus estimate the true level of exertion, whether to judge the condition of their opponent in a fight or to monitor a partner’s investment into cooperative physical activities.

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“…Speech is also reported in addition to nonverbal moans, often in the form of expletives or simple words 26 . The most consistently reported pattern is that women are more vocal than men 3,20,21,26 , and this is also true in non-human primates, especially in promiscuous species 27,28 . Men reportedly appreciate female sexual sounds 3,20 , perhaps more so than do women 29 .…”

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confidence: 97%

“…This continuity is great news for research on human nonverbal behaviors, including sexual vocalizations, because insights from other species can be instrumental for understanding humans. Indeed, copulation calls and their likely functions have been discussed extensively in non-human primates, whereas in humans so far there are no studies of sexual vocalizations "in the wild" and only a few attempts to analyze the soundtracks of films used for sexual education 17 or pornography 18,19 , as well as some questionnaire-based surveys 3,20,21 . Isolated sexual vocalizations obtained from social media have been tested in a few studies on human nonverbal vocalizations [22][23][24][25] , but these are short individual syllables, not sequences of vocalizations unfolding dynamically through the sexual response cycle.…”

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confidence: 99%

Why do people make noises in bed?

Anikin

2023

Preprint

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Many primates produce copulation calls, but we have surprisingly little data on what human sex sounds like. I present 34 hours of audio recordings from 2239 authentic sexual episodes shared online, each with one vocalizer (1950 female, 289 male). Both acoustic features and arousal ratings from a perceptual experiment follow an inverted-U curve, revealing the likely time of orgasm. Sexual vocalizations become longer, louder, more high-pitched, voiced, and unpredictable at orgasm in both men and women. Men are not less vocal overall, but women start moaning at an earlier stage; speech or even minimally verbalized exclamations are uncommon. While excessive vocalizing sounds inauthentic to listeners, vocal bursts at peak arousal are ubiquitous and less verbalized than in the build-up phase, suggesting limited volitional control. Human sexual vocalizations likely include both consciously controlled and spontaneous moans of pleasure, perhaps best understood as sounds of liking rather than signals specific to copulation.

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Factors Influencing Sexual Vocalization in Human Females

Cited by 7 publications

References 90 publications

Inter-sexual multimodal communication during mating in wild geladas: the leading role of females

Inter-sexual multimodal communication during mating in wild geladas: the leading role of females

The honest sound of physical effort

Why do people make noises in bed?

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