---
title: Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how well women recognize objects shown partially?
description: Yes, women in the low-estrogen phase were able to recognize objects from more incomplete images than women in the high-estrogen phase.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-effects-on-perceptual-closure-mediate-changes-in-performance-on-2005/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how well women recognize objects shown partially?

Study, 2005

# Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how well women recognize objects shown partially?

Yes, women in the low-estrogen phase were able to recognize objects from more incomplete images than women in the high-estrogen phase.

 Early or limited evidence

17 women in low-estrogen phase, 16 in high-estrogen phase, all with regular cycles

## What they did

Healthy women with regular menstrual cycles looked at fragmented images and tried to identify them. Some images had been shown before and some were new. Women were tested during the low-estrogen or high-estrogen phase of their cycle. Hormone levels were confirmed through saliva tests.

## What they found

All women identified previously seen images faster and when images were more fragmented compared to new images. Women in the low-estrogen phase identified both new and previously seen objects when images were more degraded. High estrogen did not block this effect.

## What it means for you

During the low-estrogen part of your cycle you may be better at recognizing partial images, possibly because your brain processes visual information differently. This is a small study with only 17-16 women per group testing one type of visual task.

17

women tested during low-estrogen phase

16

women tested during high-estrogen phase

## About the study

Original title Menstrual cycle effects on perceptual closure mediate changes in performance on a fragmented objects test of implicit memory Authors Hampson E, Finestone JM, Levy N Journal Brain and cognition Year 2005 Study design Study Participants 17 What was tested Viewing fragmented images, some previously shown and some new Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2004.08.028](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandc.2004.08.028)

## Topics

[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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