--- title: Does the menstrual cycle change how brain regions connect with each other? description: Yes. The menstrual cycle changes how brain regions connect, particularly around ovulation, and these changes relate to estradiol levels and well-being. This i url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/functional-brain-network-topology-across-the-menstrual-cycle-is-estradiol-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the menstrual cycle change how brain regions connect with each other? Cohort study, 2021 # Does the menstrual cycle change how brain regions connect with each other? Yes. The menstrual cycle changes how brain regions connect, particularly around ovulation, and these changes relate to estradiol levels and well-being. This is a small study (24 women) so the findings need confirmation in larger groups. Moderate study design 24 naturally cycling women ## What they did 24 naturally cycling women had hormone levels measured, brain electrical activity recorded, and psychological tests performed at three points in their cycle: early follicular phase, ovulation, and mid-luteal phase. ## What they found During ovulation, the brain network organization changed in the alpha frequency band. Estradiol levels predicted these changes. During the luteal phase, increases in estradiol correlated with environmental mastery (a measure of well-being) and changes in brain network organization in the right posterior cingulate gyrus. ## What it means for you The menstrual cycle affects how brain regions work together, and this relates to hormone levels and well-being. However, this is a small study so the findings need to be confirmed in larger groups. 24 women studied 3 menstrual cycle phases measured ## About the study Original title Functional brain network topology across the menstrual cycle is estradiol dependent and correlates with individual well-being Authors Liparoti M, Troisi Lopez E, Sarno L et al. Journal Journal of neuroscience research Year 2021 Study design Cohort study Participants 24 Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24898](https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.24898) Original abstract The menstrual cycle (MC) is a sex hormone-related phenomenon that repeats itself cyclically during the woman's reproductive life. In this explorative study, we hypothesized that coordinated variations of multiple sex hormones may affect the large-scale organization of the brain functional network and that, in turn, such changes might have psychological correlates, even in the absence of overt clinical signs of anxiety and/or depression. To test our hypothesis, we investigated longitudinally, across the MC, the relationship between the sex hormones and both brain network and psychological changes. We enrolled 24 naturally cycling women and, at the early-follicular, peri-ovulatory, and mid-luteal phases of the MC, we performed: (a) sex hormone dosage, (b) magnetoencephalography recording to study the brain network topology, and (c) psychological questionnaires to quantify anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and well-being. We showed that during the peri-ovulatory phase, in the alpha band, the leaf fraction and the tree hierarchy of the brain network were reduced, while the betweenness centrality (BC) of the right posterior cingulate gyrus (rPCG) was increased. Furthermore, the increase in BC was predicted by estradiol levels. Moreover, during the luteal phase, the variation of estradiol correlated positively with the variations of both the topological change and environmental mastery dimension of the well-being test, which, in turn, was related to the increase in the BC of rPCG. Our results highlight the effects of sex hormones on the large-scale brain network organization as well as on their possible relationship with the psychological state across the MC. Moreover, the fact that physiological changes in the brain topology occur throughout the MC has widespread implications for neuroimaging studies. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) 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 Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Survey study, 2025 How do personality traits like neuroticism affect PMS severity and sexual satisfaction? 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