Cohort study, 2021
Does the menstrual cycle change how the brain works during memory tasks?
Yes. Brain activation and connectivity between different regions change across the menstrual cycle during working memory tasks, with the largest changes during the luteal phase when progesterone levels are high.
What they did
A longitudinal study of 39 women with regular menstrual cycles. Their brains were scanned three times per cycle at menses, before ovulation, and during the luteal phase. During each scan, women performed a working memory test (N-back task) that tested both memory updating and ignoring distractions.
What they found
Brain connectivity patterns changed across the cycle. During memory updating, there was decreased connectivity between the left striatum and frontal and parietal areas during the luteal phase when progesterone was high. For ignoring distractions, connectivity patterns differed between the pre-ovulatory and luteal phases. Overall, the luteal phase showed different brain regulation with more activity in attention and emotion networks.
What it means for you
Hormones across the menstrual cycle affect how brain regions communicate during cognitive tasks. This might explain why some women feel concentration changes during the cycle. However, this study only measured brain activity on scans, not whether these changes affect how women actually perform or feel day-to-day.
39
Women studied
3
Brain scans per cycle
2
Memory task types (targets and lures)
About the study
- Original title
- Fronto-striatal changes along the menstrual cycle during working memory: Effect of sex hormones on activation and connectivity patterns
- Authors
- Hidalgo-Lopez E, Pletzer B
- Journal
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105108