Review, 2012
How does the menstrual cycle affect thinking and memory skills?
Healthy women show small changes in cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle, with worse performance in the luteal phase. Women with PMS or PMDD show even greater decline, but the difference is small.
What they did
Reviewed 27 studies that compared cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with PMS or PMDD.
What they found
Both healthy women and women with PMS or PMDD had lower performance in the luteal phase for visuospatial and motor skills, attention and concentration, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, and reaction time. Women with PMS or PMDD also showed more impulsivity. Symptoms in women with PMS or PMDD had low intensity but were greater than in healthy women.
What it means for you
Cognitive performance does fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, with larger changes in women with PMS or PMDD. However, the studies used very different methods, which makes it hard to draw firm conclusions.
27
studies reviewed
80%
of women experience psychological and physical changes in premenstrual phase
About the study
- Original title
- Neuropsychological performance and menstrual cycle: a literature review
- Authors
- Souza EG, Ramos MG, Hara C et al.
- Journal
- Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy
- Year
- 2012
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- None (review of existing studies)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1590/s2237-60892012000100003
Topics
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