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Menstrual cycle effects on perceptual closure mediate changes in performance on a fragmented objects test of implicit
Elizabeth Hampson1, Jennifer M Finestone, Na'ama Levy
1Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5C2. ehampson@uwo.ca
Brain and Cognition
|February 15, 2005
Summary
This study found that while high estrogen levels do not inhibit implicit memory, women in the menstrual phase performed better on object identification tasks. This suggests menstrual cycle phase influences perceptual abilities.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Reproductive Endocrinology
Background:
- The menstrual cycle involves significant hormonal fluctuations, particularly estrogen.
- Previous research suggests potential links between ovarian hormones and cognitive function, including memory and perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of different menstrual cycle phases (low vs. high estrogen) on implicit memory performance using a fragmented objects test.
- To determine if high estrogen levels inhibit perceptual object priming.
Main Methods:
- Assessed healthy premenopausal women (n=33) during either the low or high estrogen phase of their menstrual cycle.
- Utilized a fragmented objects test to measure implicit memory and perceptual abilities.
- Confirmed hormone concentrations via saliva assays.
Main Results:
- Both low and high estrogen groups demonstrated a priming effect, identifying primed objects faster and at greater fragmentation.
- No evidence was found that high estrogen inhibits perceptual object priming.
- Women in the menstrual phase identified objects at a more degraded fragmentation level compared to other phases.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle do not appear to inhibit perceptual object priming.
- Performance on fragmented object identification tasks may be influenced by menstrual cycle phase, potentially due to changes in perceptual closure.