Survey study, 2008
Does how well women recognize emotions change during the menstrual cycle?
Women recognized emotions better during the follicular phase when progesterone levels were lower. This suggests progesterone may affect how well women read emotions in faces.
What they did
Researchers tested 32 healthy young women on recognizing emotions in faces during two different cycle phases and measured their hormone levels.
What they found
Women in the follicular phase showed higher accuracy at recognizing emotions than women in the luteal phase. There was a clear link between lower progesterone levels and better emotion recognition.
What it means for you
Progesterone may affect the ability to recognize emotions, but this study was small and only included healthy young women. It does not show whether this affects everyday life or applies to all women.
32
women studied
15
during follicular phase
17
during luteal phase
About the study
- Original title
- Emotion recognition accuracy in healthy young females is associated with cycle phase
- Authors
- Derntl B, Kryspin-Exner I, Fernbach E et al.
- Journal
- Hormones and behavior
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Survey study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.09.006
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD?
Systematic review, 2025
Does how well women think change throughout their menstrual cycle?
Cohort study, 2026
How do beliefs about control and ways of handling emotions affect distress before your period?
Study, 2026
How does PMDD affect women's work and careers?
Interview study, 2024
Do women with ADHD benefit from a group focused on the menstrual cycle?
Randomised trial, 2023
What does research show about PMDD neurochemistry?