Subcortical structural changes along the menstrual cycle: beyond the hippocampus
Belinda Pletzer1, TiAnni Harris2, Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez2
1Department of Psychology & Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria. Belinda.Pletzer@sbg.ac.at.
Scientific Reports
|October 31, 2018
Summary
This study found that hormones like estradiol and progesterone cause small, measurable changes in human brain structure, specifically the hippocampus and basal ganglia, during the menstrual cycle.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Human Anatomy
Background:
- Animal studies show hormone-related changes in brain spine density, particularly in the hippocampus.
- Human studies on hormone-dependent gray matter volume changes during the menstrual cycle lack consistency, often due to small sample sizes and varied definitions of cycle phases.
- Previous research has inconsistently reported menstrual cycle-related brain changes, with only hippocampal alterations being replicated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate menstrual cycle-dependent changes in human brain structure using a large sample size and precisely defined hormonal phases.
- To determine if hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle are associated with significant changes in gray matter volume in specific brain regions.
- To provide a powerful assessment of brain structure changes linked to hormonal shifts in women.
Main Methods:
- Recruited a large sample of 55 women.
- Scanned participants three times during their menstrual cycle within specific hormonal change windows.
- Utilized neuroimaging techniques to assess gray matter volume changes.
Main Results:
- Confirmed a significant estradiol-dependent increase in gray matter volume in the bilateral hippocampus before ovulation.
- Observed a significant progesterone-dependent increase in gray matter volume in the right basal ganglia after ovulation.
- Found no other brain areas were affected by hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle are associated with small, but significant, changes in human brain structure, specifically in the hippocampus and basal ganglia.
- These hormone-driven structural changes may underlie observed menstrual cycle-related variations in cognition and emotion.
- This study provides robust evidence for menstrual cycle-dependent neuroplasticity in humans, facilitated by a large sample size and rigorous methodology.
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