--- title: Does your menstrual cycle affect how your brain works and how well you do on mental tasks? description: Yes, brain activity and task performance change across the cycle, with performance best around ovulation and worst in the late luteal phase. Oral contraceptiv url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/changes-in-physiological-eeg-and-psychological-parameters-in-women-during-the-1982/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does your menstrual cycle affect how your brain works and how well you do on mental tasks? Non-randomised trial, 1982 # Does your menstrual cycle affect how your brain works and how well you do on mental tasks? Yes, brain activity and task performance change across the cycle, with performance best around ovulation and worst in the late luteal phase. Oral contraceptives eliminate these changes. This is a very small study with no control group. Early or limited evidence 14 women ## What they did 14 women had their brain electrical activity measured with EEG, hormone levels tested, and took performance tests during their natural cycle and again while on oral contraceptives. ## What they found Brain waves were slower during the follicular phase and faster during the luteal phase. Performance on tasks was best around ovulation and worst during the late luteal and early menstrual phases. When women took oral contraceptives, these cycle-related performance changes did not happen. Changes in brain activity matched changes in hormone levels. ## What it means for you Your menstrual cycle affects how your brain works electrically and how well you think, likely through hormone effects on brain chemistry. Oral contraceptives can prevent these monthly performance swings. The main limitation is the very small sample size and lack of randomization. 14 women studied slower waves in follicular phase around ovulation best performance ## About the study Original title Changes in physiological, EEG and psychological parameters in women during the spontaneous menstrual cycle and following oral contraceptives Authors Becker D, Creutzfeldt OD, Schwibbe M et al. Journal Psychoneuroendocrinology Year 1982 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 14 What was tested Oral contraceptives versus natural menstrual cycle Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(82)90057-9](https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-4530(82)90057-9) ## Topics [Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/) 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 Review, 2020 How do reproductive hormones affect the brain and behavior during the menstrual cycle? Randomised trial, 2017 Does the combined oral contraceptive pill affect mood? Randomised trial, 1999 Does calcium reduce PMS symptoms? Cohort study, 1993 How common are premenstrual and menstrual symptoms in women? Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Case-control study, 2025 Do women with eating disorders experience more menstrual distress, and does birth control help? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗