Basic cognitive functions across the menstrual cycle in a controlled female cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of sex hormones in the modulation of specific cognitive functions across the menstrual cycle of young healthy women, and to apply improved study design by addressing limitations recognized in previous studies.


METHODS
A homogenous group of 16 young healthy women, with no history of health problems related to menstrual cycle, major psychiatric and neurological disorders or addictions was included in study. All participants were medical students of similar age (21.56 ± 0.15 year). They were subjected to various cognitive tasks at three different phases of the menstrual cycle: early follicular phase, proven ovulatory phase and mid-luteal phase. Special concern was taken to validate blood hormone levels and to determine preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH)-peak.


RESULTS
Analysis of blood hormone levels confirmed that the test sessions were performed at appropriate time points. Most women were presented with the above average results on utilized cognitive tasks, with no significant changes in immediate memory, working memory, delayed recall, verbal learning, delayed verbal learning or verbal fluency in any phase of the menstrual cycle. In addition, test results did not correlate to measured hormone levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during each menstrual cycle did not affect women's everyday functioning to any significant extent.
1Department of Physiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Josip Juraj Strossmayer Universty of Osijek, 2Department of Internal Medicine, 3Department of Neurology, Clinical Psychology Division; Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek, 4Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek; Osijek, Croatia.
Martina
M
Mihalj
Ines
I
Drenjančević
Aleksandar
A
Včev
Antun
A
Šumanovac
Ana
A
Čavka
Mirjana
M
Vladetić
Rudika
R
Gmajnić
D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones