Hemispheric and facial asymmetry: Gender differences

Abstract

Facial asymmetry (facedness) of female and male college students was investigated. Comparisons of facedness were made between 45 female and 45 male Dartmouth undergraduates. Facedness was defined in terms of the relative sizes (in square centimetres) of the two hemifaces. Data were derived from measurements of two-dimensional frontal photographs of the subjects. Reliable differences in facedness were found between the two groups. The females on average were found to be right faced, the males left faced. This difference was interpreted in terms of the contralateral control (below the eyes) of the two sides of the face by the two hemispheres, and the known differences in cognitive processing by the two hemispheres (left hemisphere-verbal; right hemisphere-visuospatial) in females and males. The observed difference in facial asymmetry between the two sexes is attributed to differential muscular development of the two sides of the face as related to the factors just noted. Suggestions are made for further research on facedness, particularly in relation to different age groups.