Randomised trial, 2008
How do different menstrual cycle phases affect attention, memory, and thinking skills?
Yes. Sustained attention improved during the early luteal phase when progesterone is high, and spatial memory improved during ovulation when estrogen is high.
What they did
Nine women with regular cycles completed neuropsychological tests (measuring attention, memory, spatial ability, verbal fluency, coordination, anxiety, and depression) during ovulation, early luteal, late luteal, and menstrual phases.
What they found
Sustained attention increased significantly during the early luteal phase. Visuo-spatial (spatial) memory increased during ovulation, while verbal fluency decreased at ovulation. These cognitive changes explained 68.31% of the total performance variation across the cycle.
What it means for you
Your brain's strengths shift during your cycle. You may focus better during your early luteal phase and be better at spatial tasks around ovulation. This was a very small study that needs confirmation in larger groups.
9
women
68.31%
of cognitive variation explained
4 phases
ovulation, early luteal, late luteal, menstrual
About the study
- Original title
- Sustained attention is favored by progesterone during early luteal phase and visuo-spatial memory by estrogens during ovulatory phase in young women
- Authors
- Solís-Ortiz S, Corsi-Cabrera M
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Neuropsychological testing during four different cycle phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.04.003
Topics
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