Study, 2002
Does memory performance change at different times during the menstrual cycle?
Some types of memory and thinking skills changed across the menstrual cycle, particularly during the high-hormone phase, though the pattern varied by task type. Estrogen appears responsible for these changes, not progesterone.
What they did
16 women aged 18 to 28 completed memory and thinking skills tests at two points in their menstrual cycle: the early follicular phase (low estrogen and progesterone) and the mid-luteal phase (high estrogen and progesterone). Tests measured different types of memory, fine motor coordination, how quickly someone can name things in a category, and mental rotation abilities.
What they found
One automatic memory test (generating examples from a category) performed better during the high-hormone phase. An intentional memory recall test did not change across the cycle. Another automatic memory test (recognizing fragmented objects) performed better during the low-hormone phase. Fine motor skills and naming speed improved during the high-hormone phase. Mental rotation abilities decreased during the high-hormone phase. Estrogen levels correlated with some of these changes. Mood did not change across the menstrual cycle.
What it means for you
Hormone levels affect how well women perform certain memory and thinking tasks, though effects vary by task type. Estrogen drives these changes more than progesterone. Since this was a small study of young women only, results may not apply to all women or older women.
16
Women tested
18-28
Age range
2
Cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Implicit memory varies across the menstrual cycle: estrogen effects in young women
- Authors
- Maki PM, Rich JB, Rosenbaum RS
- Journal
- Neuropsychologia
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Testing at two menstrual cycle phases (early follicular and mid-luteal)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0028-3932(01)00126-9
Topics
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