---
title: Does the menstrual cycle phase affect spatial ability? | Niyora
description: Yes. Women in the luteal phase scored lower on spatial reasoning tests than women in other menstrual phases, but hormone levels didn't explain why.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-variation-in-spatial-ability-relation-to-salivary-cortisol-2001/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle phase affect spatial ability?

Survey study, 2001

# Does the menstrual cycle phase affect spatial ability?

Yes. Women in the luteal phase scored lower on spatial reasoning tests than women in other menstrual phases, but hormone levels didn't explain why.

 Early or limited evidence

82 university students (female) with comparison to men

## What they did

82 female university students took a spatial reasoning test (mental rotation test) at different times in their menstrual cycle. Cortisol levels were measured from saliva before and after the test.

## What they found

Women in the luteal phase scored lower than women in the menstrual phase, follicular phase, or those on birth control. Men scored higher than all groups of women. Cortisol levels were the same across all phases and were not connected to test scores. The worse performance in the luteal phase was not explained by stress, mood, or feeling unsuccessful.

## What it means for you

Something about the luteal phase temporarily worsens spatial ability, but it's not cortisol or stress. The reason remains unclear and may involve other biological or social factors. The study only included university students, so results may not apply to all women.

82

female university students studied

15%

of performance variation explained by menstrual cycle phase

## About the study

Original title Menstrual cycle variation in spatial ability: relation to salivary cortisol levels Authors McCormick CM, Teillon SM Journal Hormones and behavior Year 2001 Study design Survey study Participants 82 What was tested None (observational study) Read the paper [doi.org/10.1006/hbeh.2000.1636](https://doi.org/10.1006/hbeh.2000.1636)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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