---
title: Does how your brain processes visual information change during your menstrual cycle?
description: Yes. During the second half of your cycle, your brain responds more strongly to visual images compared to men.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/early-visual-processing-is-enhanced-in-the-midluteal-phase-of-the-menstrual-2015/
---

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- Does how your brain processes visual information change during your menstrual cycle?

Study, 2015

# Does how your brain processes visual information change during your menstrual cycle?

Yes. During the second half of your cycle, your brain responds more strongly to visual images compared to men.

 Moderate study design

28 women in early follicular phase, 29 women in midluteal phase, 27 men

## What they did

Researchers measured brain activity while people looked at images. They tested 28 women in the early follicular phase, 29 women in the midluteal phase, and 27 men. Everyone viewed neutral images and images designed to be pleasant or unpleasant, ranging from less intense to more intense.

## What they found

Women in the midluteal phase showed stronger brain responses to all visual images compared to men. Both midluteal and early follicular women showed stronger responses than men (clearest for midluteal women). Highly intense unpleasant images produced the strongest overall responses in everyone.

## What it means for you

Your brain may process visual information more intensely during the second half of your cycle, which could explain why emotional sensitivity changes at different times. The study was done in a lab setting with controlled images.

29

Women in midluteal phase

28

Women in early follicular phase

27

Men

## About the study

Original title Early visual processing is enhanced in the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle Authors Lusk BR, Carr AR, Ranson VA et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2015 Study design Study Participants 29 What was tested Brain activity measurement during image viewing Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.022](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.022)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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