Hey, now here's a study that makes sense: Researchers found that women viewed men's faces differently depending on where they were in their menstrual cycles. Around ovulation, women had more brain activity in the areas associated with reward, and less in the areas connected with inhibition and cognitive control. In other words, everyone looks do-able when you are ovulating. Well, that might be an overstatement, but I think it explains many of my mid-cycle crushes, later replaced by the thought, "Uh, what was that all about?"
Researchers find more significance to this than just an explanation for the oft-used phrase "Ooooh baby, you know I could drop an egg at any minute so get me while I'm hot." Since inhibitions are down and reward-processing is more sensitive around ovulation, this could mean "women may be more likely to engage
in risky sexual behavior or could be vulnerable to drug or alcohol
abuse at this time." And is it possible that all these things could be intertwined? The drinking and drug use and risky sex with guys who just happen to be lookin' mighty fine at the time? Hmmm. Just be careful not to let your ovulation do the thinking for you.
