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Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

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The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
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The menstrual cycle is a recurrent sequence of changes in the uterine endometrium, specifically its functional layer, the stratum functionalis. This cycle prepares the uterus for potential pregnancy. This cycle typically spans 21–35 days, averaging 28 days, and aligns with the ovarian cycle, regulated by fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
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Related Experiment Video

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Brain Imaging Investigation of the Impairing Effect of Emotion on Cognition
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Menstrual cycle influence on cognitive function and emotion processing-from a reproductive perspective.

Inger Sundström Poromaa1, Malin Gingnell2

  • 1Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden.

Frontiers in Neuroscience
|December 16, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review found limited evidence that cognitive skills change with the menstrual cycle. However, emotion processing and brain reactivity, particularly amygdala activity, show consistent changes linked to progesterone during the luteal phase.

Keywords:
cognitionemotionestradiolfunctional magnetic resonance imagingmenstrual cycleprogesterone

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • The menstrual cycle is a model for studying ovarian steroid influence on emotion, behavior, and cognition.
  • Methodological improvements have enhanced the reliability of menstrual cycle studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review methodologically sound studies on menstrual cycle effects on cognition and emotion in healthy women.
  • To evaluate hypotheses regarding sex-dimorphic cognitive skills and ovarian hormone levels.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of menstrual cycle studies.
  • Meta-analysis of mental rotation performance.
  • Review of studies on prefrontal cortex function (working memory).
  • Examination of studies on emotional processing and brain reactivity (fMRI).

Main Results:

  • No sufficient evidence supports hypotheses that sex-dimorphic cognitive skills improve with specific menstrual cycle phases.
  • Mental rotation performance shows no clear improvement in the early follicular phase.
  • Some evidence suggests improved prefrontal cortex task performance with high estradiol levels.
  • Emotion recognition, memory consolidation, and fear extinction appear modulated by the menstrual cycle.
  • Increased amygdala reactivity in the luteal phase is consistently reported, linked to progesterone.

Conclusions:

  • Observed behavioral changes in sex-dimorphic tasks are small and difficult to replicate.
  • Emotion-related changes are more consistently demonstrated and associated with progesterone.
  • Progesterone is linked to increased amygdala reactivity and emotional memory during the luteal phase.