Final answer:
Gangestad and colleagues' research did not link women's ovulatory preferences to men's hair length. Ovulation is instead related to hormonal changes, such as the LH surge, influenced by FSH and estrogen levels, playing key roles in the menstrual cycle and potential fertility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gangestad and his colleagues (2004) did not find that during ovulation, women show a heightened preference for men with long hair. Instead, the ovulation phase of a woman's menstrual cycle is typically characterized by a complex interaction of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which prepare the body for potential fertilization and pregnancy.
Hormones like Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) facilitate the release of an oocyte, which, if fertilized by a sperm cell, could lead to conception.
During the follicular phase leading up to ovulation, an increase in estrogen levels causes a surge in LH, resulting in the rupture of the mature follicle and the release of an egg. This cycle occurs roughly every 28 days, with ovulation typically happening around day 14. These biological processes are essential in understanding reproductive health but do not directly relate to social behavior, such as a preference for certain physical characteristics in a mate during ovulation.