---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect brain activity related to memory and attention?
description: Yes. Brain electrical activity related to attention (the P300 response) was significantly stronger during menstruation than during ovulation. Memory effects w
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-the-menstrual-cycle-on-electrophysiological-and-behavioral-2004/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect brain activity related to memory and attention?

Non-randomised trial, 2004

# Does the menstrual cycle affect brain activity related to memory and attention?

Yes. Brain electrical activity related to attention (the P300 response) was significantly stronger during menstruation than during ovulation. Memory effects were similar at both cycle phases.

 Early or limited evidence

12 spontaneously cycling women.

## What they did

Researchers measured brain electrical activity (event-related potentials) in 12 women while they performed memory tasks at two cycle phases: menstruation and ovulation. Women saw words on a screen, some of which repeated after about 6 trials, in two types of memory tasks.

## What they found

The P300 amplitude, which reflects attention and context updating, was significantly greater during menses than during the ovulatory phase. The repetition effect (brain response to seeing words repeat) was significant at both cycle phases but did not differ between them.

## What it means for you

This suggests attention and context-updating processes in the brain change across the menstrual cycle, with stronger responses during menstruation. However, this is a very small study with no control group for comparison, so clinical significance is unclear. The women studied did not have mood disorders.

12

Women studied

6

Mean trials between word repetitions

## About the study

Original title The effect of the menstrual cycle on electrophysiological and behavioral measures of memory and mood Authors O'Reilly MA, Cunningham CJ, Lawlor BA et al. Journal Psychophysiology Year 2004 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested No intervention; brain activity was measured during memory tasks. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2004.00194.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2004.00194.x)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/)

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