Reproducible stability of verbal and spatial functions along the menstrual cycle

Belinda Pletzer*, Hannah Bodenbach, Marcel Hoehn, Linda Hajdari, Tobias Hausinger, Isabel Noachtar, Adriene M. Beltz

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelPeer-reviewed

Abstract

Recent studies have reported brain changes in response to ovarian hormonal fluctuations along the menstrual cycle. However, it remains unclear, whether these brain changes are of an adaptive nature or whether they are linked to changes in behavior along the menstrual cycle, particularly with respect to cognitive performance. To address this knowledge gap, we report results from 3 well-powered behavioral studies with different task designs, leveraging the advantages of each design type. In all three studies we assessed whether verbal or spatial performance (i) differed between cycle phases, (ii) were related to estradiol and / or progesterone levels and (iii) were moderated by individual hormone sensitivity as estimated by premenstrual symptoms. Overall, results of all three studies point towards a null effect of menstrual cycle phase and – to a lesser extent – ovarian hormones on verbal and spatial performance and provided no evidence for a moderation of this effect by individual hormone sensitivity. We conclude that there is substantial consistency in verbal and spatial performance across the menstrual cycle, and that future studies of intra-individual variation are needed.
OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)933-941
Seitenumfang9
FachzeitschriftNeuropsychopharmacology
Jahrgang49
Ausgabenummer6
Frühes Online-Datum24 Jan. 2024
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Mai 2024

Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige 2012

  • 501 Psychologie

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