Study, 1987
Does the menstrual cycle change how the brain processes sound?
No. The brain's processing of sound did not change between the day before menstruation and 9 days after cycle start, despite significant mood changes.
What they did
Researchers measured how 12 women's brains processed sound at two times in their cycle: the day before their period and 9 days after it started. The group included 8 college students and 4 women from a PMS clinic. They used a test that plays pairs of sounds and measures brain responses, and compared results to men.
What they found
Women showed significant changes in self-ratings of mood between the two recording periods. However, the brain's sound-processing wave was unchanged between the two recordings. The brain responses also did not differ from age-matched male controls.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle does not appear to change how the brain processes sound, even though mood clearly changes. Premenstrual mood changes do not have the same brain activity pattern seen in mania. The main limits are this is a very small study with a mixed group from different sources.
12
women in study
8
college students
9
days after cycle start for second recording
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual mood changes and gating of the auditory evoked potential
- Authors
- Waldo MC, Graze K, de Graff Bender S et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 1987
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 12
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(87)90020-5
Topics
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