---
title: How does estrogen affect mood and memory? | Niyora
description: Yes. Estrogen affects mood and memory by changing levels of brain chemicals that control emotion and behavior. Low estrogen is linked to PMS, depression after
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/estrogen-control-of-central-neurotransmission-effect-on-mood-mental-state-and-1996/
---

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- How does estrogen affect mood and memory?

Review, 1996

# How does estrogen affect mood and memory?

Yes. Estrogen affects mood and memory by changing levels of brain chemicals that control emotion and behavior. Low estrogen is linked to PMS, depression after childbirth, and postmenopausal depression, though human studies remain limited.

 Early or limited evidence

Review article (not a specific study population)

## What they did

This is a review of research on how estrogen affects brain chemicals. The authors examined examples of estrogen's effects on monoamine neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and on neuropeptides like arginine vasopressin.

## What they found

Estrogen increases dopamine D2 receptors and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in brain areas that control mood, emotion, cognition, and behavior. Low estrogen levels are associated with PMS, postpartum depression, and postmenopausal depression. Estrogen causes a 100-fold increase in arginine vasopressin messenger RNA in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. This may enhance memory and provide a model for understanding how estrogen affects mood and cognition.

## What it means for you

Low estrogen during the menstrual cycle may explain why some women experience depression before their period. This explains why estrogen therapy and serotonin-boosting drugs like fluoxetine help treat PMS depression. The main limit is that this is a review and it remains unclear whether all mechanisms found in animal studies apply to humans.

100-fold

increase in arginine vasopressin messenger RNA in a brain region

D2 receptors

dopamine receptors increased by estrogen

5-HT2A receptors

serotonin receptors increased by estrogen

## About the study

Original title Estrogen control of central neurotransmission: effect on mood, mental state, and memory Authors Fink G, Sumner BE, Rosie R et al. Journal Cellular and molecular neurobiology Year 1996 Study design Review What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/bf02088099](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02088099)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Schizophrenia and psychosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-psychosis/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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

Non-randomised trial, 2014

Does hormone therapy help women with depression linked to periods and menopause?

Randomised trial, 2006

Do women with PMDD and depression process progesterone differently than others?

Review, 2002

What are the reproductive-related mood disorders and how are they connected?

Survey study, 1998

How does estrogen affect mood and depression?

Survey study, 2024

Does a Chinese herbal medicine called ShuYu capsule help PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2023

Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms?

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