--- title: Does estradiol improve women's attention and cognitive control? description: Yes. Women's attention control was best during the high-estradiol follicular phase, with the effect linked to estradiol levels. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/language-lateralization-and-cognitive-control-across-the-menstrual-cycle-2012/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does estradiol improve women's attention and cognitive control? Randomised trial, 2012 # Does estradiol improve women's attention and cognitive control? Yes. Women's attention control was best during the high-estradiol follicular phase, with the effect linked to estradiol levels. Moderate study design 15 women tested across menstrual cycle (15 men tested once for comparison) ## What they did 15 women were tested three times during their menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, and luteal phases, with hormone levels verified). 15 men were tested once for comparison. All did a dichotic listening test that measured attention control on language processing. ## What they found In the attention-demanding version of the test, women in the follicular phase showed better attention control than in the menstrual and luteal phases. The improvement from menstrual to follicular phase was linked to increased estradiol levels, indicating estradiol helps with attention control. ## What it means for you Estradiol appears to actively improve how well women can focus attention, especially on cognitive control tasks. The effect depends on the demands of the task. Study was small and only in women of reproductive age. 15 women across cycle 15 men for comparison 3 cycle phases for women ## About the study Original title Language lateralization and cognitive control across the menstrual cycle assessed with a dichotic-listening paradigm Authors Hjelmervik H, Westerhausen R, Osnes B et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2012 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Dichotic listening task tested across menstrual cycle phases Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.03.021](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.03.021) Original abstract Lateralization has been shown to vary across the menstrual cycle, however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and results are inconsistent. Additionally, it has been suggested that estradiol enhances cognitive control. By modulating attention in a consonant-vowel dichotic listening test, the current study aims to investigate the effects of cycle-related changes on language lateralization (non-forced condition), as well as the effects of estradiol-modulated cognitive control (forced left condition) on the ear advantage. Fifteen women and fifteen men tested three times on the dichotic listening test, women once in menstrual, follicular, and luteal phase (verified by hormone assays). Whereas the results from the non-forced and forced-right condition remained stable, results from the forced left condition changed across the cycle, where women in the follicular phase compared to both menstrual and luteal phases showed a stronger left ear advantage, i.e. better cognitive control performance. The increase in performance from menstrual to follicular phase correlated negatively with increase in estradiol levels, indicating a shift from a stimulus-driven right ear advantage (indicating a left hemispheric asymmetry for language) when estradiol levels were low toward a cognitively controlled left ear advantage when estradiol levels were high. This finding strongly suggests an active role of estradiol on cognitive control. The study further suggests that the degree of cognitive control demands of a given task is important to consider when investigating lateralization across the menstrual cycle. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. 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