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Related Experiment Videos

Performance and state changes during the menstrual cycle, conceptualised within a broad band testing framework.

J M Ussher1, J M Wilding

  • 1Psychology Division, Sussex University, Brighton, England.

Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Menstruation did not impair cognitive performance or vigilance in women. Semantic processing improved premenstrually, suggesting compensatory effort rather than a performance decrement.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Human Physiology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • The menstrual cycle is often anecdotally linked to mood and performance fluctuations.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the impact of the menstrual cycle on cognitive function.
  • Simple models of arousal are insufficient to explain complex psychophysiological responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between menstrual cycle phase, physiological state, and cognitive performance.
  • To examine individual differences in responses to menstrual cycle changes.
  • To evaluate the validity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as a construct.

Main Methods:

  • A broad band testing framework was employed.
  • Ten women were tested across six sessions during one menstrual cycle.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Indices of state (heart rate, self-report, skin potential) and performance (cognitive tasks) were measured.

    • Main Results:

    • Self-reported arousal increased premenstrually, with dissociation between state indices.
    • Semantic processing on a word matching task showed premenstrual improvement.
    • No significant relationship was found between state and performance, with high inter-individual variability.

    Conclusions:

    • Menstruation did not act as a stressor for the participants.
    • No evidence of performance decrement was observed during the menstrual or premenstrual phases.
    • Future research should focus on coping mechanisms, attribution of arousal, and integrated multivariate frameworks.