When the women were near an individual, the headbands worn by the men glowed brightly; when they are not near, the glow diminished. Spock postulated that the headbands were polarized conductors which transferred the vital energy or life force from humanoid males to the bodies of the women. Prior to receiving this life energy, the women appeared listless. However, the headbands also caused the males affected to undergo rapid aging and weakness, which in turn made the women more energetic and vital. The aging process caused by the headbands caused men to age at a rate of ten years per day.