Changes in perceptual asymmetry with the menstrual cycle

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Human Physiology
• Psychology

Background:

• The menstrual cycle involves hormonal fluctuations that can influence cognitive functions.
• Perceptual asymmetry, particularly the right ear advantage (REA) in dichotic listening, is a known indicator of brain lateralization for language.
• Individual differences in personality, such as repressive styles, may modulate neurocognitive responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in perceptual asymmetry across different phases of the menstrual cycle.
• To determine if the right ear advantage (REA) for auditory language stimuli varies between premenstrual and postmenstrual phases.
• To explore the influence of repressive personality styles on menstrual cycle-related changes in REA.

Main Methods:

• Utilized dichotic listening tests with fused, single response to measure perceptual asymmetry.
• Assessed 39 women across premenstrual and postmenstrual phases of their menstrual cycle.
• Correlated changes in right ear advantage (REA) with personality assessments, specifically repressive styles.

Main Results:

• A significantly greater right ear advantage (REA) for auditory language stimuli was observed in the postmenstrual phase compared to the premenstrual phase.
• Women exhibiting repressive personality styles were less likely to demonstrate significant changes in REA across the menstrual cycle.
• These findings indicate a cyclical modulation of auditory language processing lateralization.

Conclusions:

• Perceptual asymmetry, specifically the right ear advantage (REA), is influenced by the menstrual cycle phase.
• Repressive personality traits may attenuate the observed cyclical changes in neurocognitive function.
• The study links neuropsychological findings to known physiological and psychological aspects of the menstrual cycle and personality.