---
title: Does the premenstrual phase affect how well your brain can hold and work with information?
description: Working memory was actually better during the premenstrual phase than after the period, with fewer errors. Mild PMS symptoms did not interfere with this impro
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effects-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-working-memory-comparison-of-postmenstrual-and-2008/
---

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- Does the premenstrual phase affect how well your brain can hold and work with information?

Lab study, 2008

# Does the premenstrual phase affect how well your brain can hold and work with information?

Working memory was actually better during the premenstrual phase than after the period, with fewer errors. Mild PMS symptoms did not interfere with this improvement.

 Early or limited evidence

12 female university students in their reproductive years

## What they did

12 female university students completed computer-based working memory tasks during both their premenstrual and postmenstrual phases. Each session lasted 60 minutes. The order of testing was randomized to avoid bias.

## What they found

Women made significantly fewer errors on working memory tasks during the premenstrual phase, meaning their performance was better. There was no clear difference between phases in mental workload or heart rate changes (measures of how hard the brain was working). Mild PMS symptoms did not affect working memory function.

## What it means for you

This suggests that estrogen, which rises before the period, may actually help working memory rather than hurt it. The main limits are the very small sample size (12 women) and that the study only looked at mild PMS symptoms, so findings may not apply to women with more severe PMS. More research is needed.

12

Female students tested

60 minutes

Duration of each session

2

Cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title Effects of the menstrual cycle on working memory: comparison of postmenstrual and premenstrual phases Authors Konishi K, Kumashiro M, Izumi H et al. Journal Industrial health Year 2008 Study design Lab study Participants 12 What was tested None—this is comparing performance across cycle phases, not testing a treatment Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.46.253](https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.46.253)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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.

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