---
title: How does the menstrual cycle affect thinking and memory skills?
description: Healthy women show small changes in cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle, with worse performance in the luteal phase. Women with PMS or PMDD show
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neuropsychological-performance-and-menstrual-cycle-a-literature-review-2012/
---

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- How does the menstrual cycle affect thinking and memory skills?

Review, 2012

# How does the menstrual cycle affect thinking and memory skills?

Healthy women show small changes in cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle, with worse performance in the luteal phase. Women with PMS or PMDD show even greater decline, but the difference is small.

 Moderate study design

Women of reproductive age, healthy and with PMS or PMDD

## What they did

Reviewed 27 studies that compared cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with PMS or PMDD.

## What they found

Both healthy women and women with PMS or PMDD had lower performance in the luteal phase for visuospatial and motor skills, attention and concentration, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, and reaction time. Women with PMS or PMDD also showed more impulsivity. Symptoms in women with PMS or PMDD had low intensity but were greater than in healthy women.

## What it means for you

Cognitive performance does fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, with larger changes in women with PMS or PMDD. However, the studies used very different methods, which makes it hard to draw firm conclusions.

27

studies reviewed

80%

of women experience psychological and physical changes in premenstrual phase

## About the study

Original title Neuropsychological performance and menstrual cycle: a literature review Authors Souza EG, Ramos MG, Hara C et al. Journal Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy Year 2012 Study design Review What was tested None (review of existing studies) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1590/s2237-60892012000100003](https://doi.org/10.1590/s2237-60892012000100003)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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