--- title: Do mental abilities like reaction time and attention change across the menstrual cycle? description: Yes, some do. Women had faster reaction times and fewer mistakes during menstruation, but slower reactions and poorer timing skills during the luteal phase. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/attentional-anticipatory-and-spatial-cognition-fluctuate-throughout-the-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do mental abilities like reaction time and attention change across the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2025 # Do mental abilities like reaction time and attention change across the menstrual cycle? Yes, some do. Women had faster reaction times and fewer mistakes during menstruation, but slower reactions and poorer timing skills during the luteal phase. Moderate study design 394 participants including 105 menstruating women (average age 28 years) ## What they did 394 participants (105 menstruating women, 96 men, 47 using hormonal contraception) completed an online cognitive battery twice, 14 days apart. Tests measured reaction time, attention, visuospatial functions, and timing anticipation. Cycle phase was based on self-reported timing. ## What they found Menstruating women performed better during menstruation, with reaction times about 10 milliseconds faster, fewer errors, and lower variability. During the luteal phase, they had slower reaction times and poorer timing anticipation. They made more errors during the predicted ovulatory phase. Self-reported mood, cognitive, and physical symptoms were worst during menstruation. ## What it means for you Mental abilities may change across the menstrual cycle, with possible implications for sports performance and injury risk. This was observational with self-reported cycle timing, which may not be precise. No causal mechanism was tested. 105 menstruating women studied 10 milliseconds faster reaction time during menstruation ## About the study Original title Attentional, anticipatory and spatial cognition fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle: Potential implications for female sport Authors Ronca F, Blodgett JM, Bruinvels G et al. Journal Neuropsychologia Year 2025 Study design Survey study Participants 394 What was tested None tested; observational study measuring cognitive performance Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108909](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108909) ## Topics [Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Athletes and sport](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-athletes/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2022 Do athletes' feelings and performance change across the menstrual cycle? Study, 2026 Does menstrual cycle phase affect how the brain reacts to heading a ball in female footballers? Survey study, 2024 What premenstrual symptoms do martial arts athletes experience? Randomised trial, 2023 What does research show about PMDD neurochemistry? Randomised trial, 2023 Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? Case-control study, 2019 Does inflammation affect mood in women with PMS? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗