--- title: Does brain activity at rest change during different phases of the menstrual cycle? description: No. Women's resting brain activity did not change across menstrual cycle phases in this study. Brain differences between men and women appear to be permanent url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/resting-states-are-resting-traits-an-fmri-study-of-sex-differences-and-menstrual-2014/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does brain activity at rest change during different phases of the menstrual cycle? Study, 2014 # Does brain activity at rest change during different phases of the menstrual cycle? No. Women's resting brain activity did not change across menstrual cycle phases in this study. Brain differences between men and women appear to be permanent structural differences rather than changes caused by hormone fluctuations. Early or limited evidence 16 women and 15 men ## What they did Researchers measured brain activity at rest in 16 women during three different phases of the menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, and luteal) and in 15 men during three sessions at corresponding intervals. They used brain imaging scans and analyzed four networks in the front and side regions of the brain. ## What they found Women showed higher brain connectivity than men in two of the four networks studied, particularly in areas involved in thinking and planning. The menstrual cycle had no effect on this brain activity pattern. ## What it means for you The structural differences between how men's and women's brains work at rest appear to be permanent, not something that changes with hormone levels. The main limitation is the small sample size. 16 women studied 15 men studied 4 brain networks analyzed ## About the study Original title Resting states are resting traits--an FMRI study of sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in resting state cognitive control networks Authors Hjelmervik H, Hausmann M, Osnes B et al. Journal PloS one Year 2014 Study design Study What was tested Brain imaging observation Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103492](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103492) Original abstract To what degree resting state fMRI is stable or susceptible to internal mind states of the individual is currently an issue of debate. To address this issue, the present study focuses on sex differences and investigates whether resting state fMRI is stable in men and women or changes within relative short-term periods (i.e., across the menstrual cycle). Due to the fact that we recently reported menstrual cycle effects on cognitive control based on data collected during the same sessions, the current study is particularly interested in fronto-parietal resting state networks. Resting state fMRI was measured in sixteen women during three different cycle phases (menstrual, follicular, and luteal). Fifteen men underwent three sessions in corresponding time intervals. We used independent component analysis to identify four fronto-parietal networks. The results showed sex differences in two of these networks with women exhibiting higher functional connectivity in general, including the prefrontal cortex. Menstrual cycle effects on resting states were non-existent. It is concluded that sex differences in resting state fMRI might reflect sexual dimorphisms in the brain rather than transitory activating effects of sex hormones on the functional connectivity in the resting brain. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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 Cohort study, 2025 Are irregular menstrual cycles linked to lower thinking and memory skills in middle-aged women? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Randomised trial, 2026 Which works better for PMDD: cognitive-behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy? Survey study, 2025 Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls? Survey study, 2025 What behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are most common? Study, 2025 Does cognitive-behavioral therapy help girls with PMDD feel better about themselves? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗