Researchers in Australia have said that the presence of an attractive woman elevates testosterone levels in young men, increasing their capacity for physical risk.

Young adult men were asked by Richard Ronay and William von Hippel of the University of Queensland, to perform both easy and difficult tricks on skateboards, first in front of another male and then in front of a young, attractive female. The skateboarder's testosterone levels were measured after each trick.

When skateboarders attempt tricks, they make a split-second decision about whether to abort the trick or try to land it, based on a midair evaluation of the likelihood of success and on the physical costs of failure, Ronay and von Hippel said.

The researchers sought to examine this moment because it resembles the type of split-second decisions young men make while driving or in a physical confrontation.

The study also found that the young men took greater risks in the presence of the attractive female even when they knew there was a greater chance that they would crash. The study further added that Testosterone levels were significantly higher in these men than in the men who were in the presence of another male.

The study authors said in a statement, "Beautiful women lead men to throw caution to the wind." (With Inputs from Agencies)