Randomised trial, 2008
Does the menstrual cycle affect how well women recognize emotions in faces?
Yes. Women were better at recognizing emotions and had stronger brain activity in response to emotional faces during their follicular phase compared to their luteal phase.
What they did
Researchers scanned the brains of 11 women during their follicular phase and 11 different women during their luteal phase while they looked at faces showing different emotions. They measured amygdala activation (a part of the brain involved in emotion) and tracked how well women identified the emotions.
What they found
Women in their follicular phase had stronger amygdala activation and recognized emotions better. Higher progesterone levels (which occur in the luteal phase) were linked to weaker brain responses to fearful, sad, and neutral faces.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle hormones, particularly progesterone, change how the brain processes emotional faces. This may make women more socially sensitive at certain times in their cycle. The study was small and only compared two points in the cycle, so findings may not apply to all women.
11
women in follicular phase
11
women in luteal phase
3
types of emotions tested (fearful, sad, neutral)
About the study
- Original title
- Facial emotion recognition and amygdala activation are associated with menstrual cycle phase
- Authors
- Derntl B, Windischberger C, Robinson S et al.
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2008
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 11
- What was tested
- None; observational study comparing naturally occurring cycle phases
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.04.014
Topics
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