What is the evolutionary purpose for E enhancing our sensory perception?

[Evelyn K]

Colors on my decidedly cool color temperature LCD panel just oddly seem to stick out a lot more. So I know the HRT side effect isn't BS. Especially reds and greens. Touch wise, I feel everything more starkly especially around my abdominal area. Yeah sense of smell is enhanced a bit too. So another confirmed fun thing with being on E.

But I can't place why evolutionarily this would be a benefit to females and not males?

[Dee Marshall]

Perhaps because for a large part of our development males were hunters, females were gatherers. Better color vision and sense of smell would make fruits and veggies easier to find.

Dee
(Just a guess)

[Ms Grace]

That sounds reasonable. Maybe something to do with motherhood, caring for infants and keeping them safe by identifying dangerous scents, sounds, berries, etc.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

When it comes to colours, I think a lot has to do with "depression" blurring it somewhat, and when it's lifted we see more clearly...

Everything seems more colourful, once free from the cloak of depression...

"Recent research published by Dr. Emanuel Bubl of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Albert-Ludwigs-University of Frieburg in Germany, and his colleagues, showed that the retinas of depressed patients were less sensitive to contrast."


http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/07/21/decreased-perception-of-color-in-depression/15826.html

Metta Anatta

[JulieBlair]

The most reasonable explanation that comes to mind is that the mechanism is similar to pregnancy.  During the first trimester the senses of smell and taste are enhanced and color perception becomes acute as well.  The purpose is to protect the growing fetus from environmental insults.  That is one of the reasons for morning sickness as well.  In transwomen, we are experiencing the effects of estrogen for the first time and our bodies are responding accordingly.  So while we are not pregnant I think it is likely that we are responding to a lesser degree in the same way that heightened estrogen affects ciswomen during pregnancy.  Our bodies are trying to protect our unborn children.

Plausible?

Julie

[suzifrommd]

Re: Sense of smell

If you're charging into a grizzly's den with spears leveled in search of dinner, you'd rather not get distracted by the stench from within.

But if you're the one preparing the meat, it would be nice to know when it has spoiled.

[Evelyn K]

Hmm interesting. The only thing I can think of is similar to suzifrommd's suggestion - that males are desensitized somewhat so their concentration and acuity is more focused.

But I don't know. Maybe better color perception would help a hunter discern animal markings better, say in brush? Is it prey or a sabertooth?

[Eva Marie]

In addition to my better sense of smell I noticed that the MP3s I have been listening to for years now sound different. It is really annoying to me because songs I know by heart just don't sound the same anymore. I can now hear all kinds of background noises and sounds in them that I had never heard before, and I can hear how all of the different pieces of the song work together, and that's why they sound different to me. The only thing I can think of it that it is the HRT.

Another observation - people stink! 

[Sincerely Tegan]

Ev,
I've read that males have a more pronounced visual focus as well as the ability to temporarily tune out anything that isn't the object of focus, in order to aid in tracking and hunting.

Females, on the other hand, have a wider range of visual focus, in order to aid in early detection of predators and other threats. This sense developed mainly to help in protecting the young and ensure the survival of the species.

So, what you're experiencing is in fact the awakening of your maternal senses, which kind of goes along with what Julie commented. Anyway, congratulations.

Cheers,
Teg

PS. It also explains how guys have to basically look straight at a person in order to focus on them, whereas women can be much less obvious when they're checking someone out.