Attentional networks during the menstrual cycle
Zahira Z Cohen1, Neta Gotlieb2, Offer Erez3
1Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Behavioural Brain Research
|March 1, 2022
Summary
Progesterone levels during the luteal phase activate the brain's alerting system in naturally cycling women. This hormonal influence impacts attention networks differently compared to oral contraceptive users.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Menstrual cycle hormones, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), influence cognition.
- Previous research on attention during the menstrual cycle is inconsistent.
- The three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, executive) and their interactions remain unexplored across menstrual cycle phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attentional network performance in naturally cycling (NC) and oral contraceptive (OC) users across different menstrual cycle phases.
- To explore the relationship between ovarian hormones (E2, P4) and attentional network function.
- To examine interactions between alerting, orienting, and executive attention networks during the menstrual cycle.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Attentional Network Test - Interactions (ANT-I) to assess cognitive performance.
- Tested participants at two time points: follicular phase (day 4) and luteal phase (day 18).
- Compared performance between NC women and OC users.
Main Results:
- OC users showed consistent ANT-I performance across both tested time points.
- NC women exhibited altered attentional network interactions during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase.
- Progesterone (P4) levels significantly mediated the observed changes in the alerting network during the luteal phase.
Conclusions:
- Progesterone plays a crucial role in modulating the alerting system during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.
- Hormonal fluctuations in naturally cycling women impact the interaction of attentional networks.
- Oral contraceptives may stabilize attentional network performance irrespective of natural hormonal variations.
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