---
title: Do ovarian hormones affect how worry impacts working memory? | Niyora
description: Yes. Higher worry was linked to worse working memory performance, especially when estradiol or progesterone levels were high.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/examining-the-role-of-ovarian-hormones-in-the-association-between-worry-and-2021/
---

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- Do ovarian hormones affect how worry impacts working memory?

Survey study, 2021

# Do ovarian hormones affect how worry impacts working memory?

Yes. Higher worry was linked to worse working memory performance, especially when estradiol or progesterone levels were high.

 Early or limited evidence

97 naturally cycling women

## What they did

Studied 97 naturally cycling women who attended lab sessions four times during their menstrual cycles. Measured worry levels, working memory performance on difficult tasks, and estradiol and progesterone hormone levels.

## What they found

Higher worry was linked to lower accuracy on difficult working memory tasks when estradiol levels were high. The same pattern appeared when progesterone levels were high. This suggests that menstrual cycle hormones may change how worry affects memory and thinking.

## What it means for you

Hormones in the menstrual cycle may influence how worry affects memory and thinking ability. When hormone levels are high, worry seems to have a stronger negative effect on working memory. This is a small study, so findings need confirmation in larger groups.

97

Women studied

4

Lab sessions

small

Study limitation

## About the study

Original title Examining the role of ovarian hormones in the association between worry and working memory across the menstrual cycle Authors Gloe LM, Kashy DA, Jacobs EG et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2021 Study design Survey study What was tested None—observational study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105285](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105285)

## Topics

[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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