--- title: Does the menstrual cycle affect how the brain's two hemispheres work together for attention? description: Yes, high estradiol levels during the midluteal phase decreased asymmetry in spatial attention, suggesting hormonal changes affect how brain hemispheres inter url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/hemispheric-asymmetry-in-spatial-attention-across-the-menstrual-cycle-2005/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle affect how the brain's two hemispheres work together for attention? Case-control study, 2005 # Does the menstrual cycle affect how the brain's two hemispheres work together for attention? Yes, high estradiol levels during the midluteal phase decreased asymmetry in spatial attention, suggesting hormonal changes affect how brain hemispheres interact. Early or limited evidence Normally cycling women compared to similar-aged healthy men; sample size not specified ## What they did Women performed a visual line-bisection task (a test of spatial attention) during menstruation and during the midluteal phase of their cycle. Their results were compared to those of similar-aged men. ## What they found High levels of estradiol during the midluteal phase were related to a decrease in the hand-use effect. The hand-use effect, which measures brain hemisphere asymmetry, fluctuated across the menstrual cycle. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle affects how the brain's hemispheres interact, likely by affecting communication between hemispheres. This is a small study of a specific brain function, so findings should be confirmed in larger studies before drawing firm conclusions. ## About the study Original title Hemispheric asymmetry in spatial attention across the menstrual cycle Authors Hausmann M Journal Neuropsychologia Year 2005 Study design Case-control study What was tested Effect of menstrual cycle phase on spatial attention Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.01.017](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.01.017) Original abstract Functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs) are known to fluctuate across the menstrual cycle. The mechanisms of these sex hormonal modulations are poorly understood. It has been suggested that gonadal steroid hormones might suppress or specifically activate one hemisphere. However, recent studies suggest that high levels of gonadal steroid hormones reduce FCAs by its modulating effects on cortico-cortical transmission. To investigate the activating effects of gonadal steroid hormones on the interhemispheric interaction, a visual line-bisection task was administered to normally cycling women during menses and the midluteal cycle phase as well as to similar-aged healthy men. The results replicate previous findings of a sex difference in line-bisection as a function of hand-use and show that the hand-use effect fluctuates across the menstrual cycle. High levels of estradiol during the midluteal phase were related to a decrease of the hand-use effect. It is concluded that cycle-related fluctuations in levels of gonadal steroid hormones affect hemispheric asymmetry of spatial attention, presumably by interhemispheric spreading of neuronal activation. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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 ↗