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Electrodermal activity, hormonal levels and subjective experience during the menstrual cycle
J Gómez-Amor1, J M Martínez-Selva, F Román
1Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Anatomía Patológica y Psicobiología, Universidad de Murcia, Spain.
Biological Psychology
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Electrodermal activity, or skin conductance, significantly increased during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. However, women
Area of Science:
- Psychophysiology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- The menstrual cycle involves complex hormonal fluctuations impacting various physiological and psychological processes.
- Electrodermal activity (EDA) is a sensitive indicator of autonomic nervous system arousal.
- Understanding how hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle influence EDA and subjective experiences is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in electrodermal activity and subjective experiences across different menstrual cycle phases.
- To correlate electrodermal responses and hormonal levels (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone) with cycle phases.
- To examine the relationship between physiological arousal and psychological states during the menstrual cycle.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-two women were categorized into menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, luteal, and premenstrual phases.
- Electrodermal activity (skin conductance level, nonspecific response frequency, skin conductance response magnitude, habituation rate) was measured during auditory tone presentations.
- Hormonal phases were estimated using menses onset/cycle length and basal body temperature; psychological states were assessed using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and self-report questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in nonspecific response frequency, skin conductance response magnitude, and skin conductance level were observed during the ovulatory phase compared to luteal and premenstrual phases.
- A decreased habituation rate was noted during the ovulatory phase.
- No significant changes in subjective experience were found across the menstrual cycle phases. High follicle-stimulating hormone levels correlated with slower habituation and lower trait-anxiety.
Conclusions:
- Electrodermal activity exhibits distinct patterns across the menstrual cycle, peaking in arousal during the ovulatory phase.
- Subjective experiences, such as anxiety, did not significantly change with menstrual cycle phases in this study.
- The findings suggest a dissociation between objective physiological arousal (EDA) and subjective experience during the menstrual cycle, with hormonal influences noted on habituation and anxiety.