--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect how well women recognize emotions in faces? description: Yes. Women were better at recognizing emotions and had stronger brain activity in response to emotional faces during their follicular phase compared to their url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/facial-emotion-recognition-and-amygdala-activation-are-associated-with-menstrual-2008/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect how well women recognize emotions in faces? Randomised trial, 2008 # Does the menstrual cycle affect how well women recognize emotions in faces? Yes. Women were better at recognizing emotions and had stronger brain activity in response to emotional faces during their follicular phase compared to their luteal phase. Early or limited evidence 22 young healthy women (11 measured in follicular phase, 11 in luteal phase) ## What they did Researchers scanned the brains of 11 women during their follicular phase and 11 different women during their luteal phase while they looked at faces showing different emotions. They measured amygdala activation (a part of the brain involved in emotion) and tracked how well women identified the emotions. ## What they found Women in their follicular phase had stronger amygdala activation and recognized emotions better. Higher progesterone levels (which occur in the luteal phase) were linked to weaker brain responses to fearful, sad, and neutral faces. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle hormones, particularly progesterone, change how the brain processes emotional faces. This may make women more socially sensitive at certain times in their cycle. The study was small and only compared two points in the cycle, so findings may not apply to all women. 11 women in follicular phase 11 women in luteal phase 3 types of emotions tested (fearful, sad, neutral) ## About the study Original title Facial emotion recognition and amygdala activation are associated with menstrual cycle phase Authors Derntl B, Windischberger C, Robinson S et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2008 Study design Randomised trial Participants 11 What was tested None; observational study comparing naturally occurring cycle phases Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.04.014](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.04.014) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2026 Do brain wave patterns change across the menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2026 Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD? Systematic review, 2025 How do cognition and behavior change across the menstrual cycle in people with PMDD? Systematic review, 2025 Does how well women think change throughout their menstrual cycle? Randomised trial, 2025 Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much alcohol impairs women's memory? Randomised trial, 2024 Does estradiol prevent thinking problems before the period in women with suicidal thoughts? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗