The Cycling Brain in the Workplace: Does Workload Modulate the Menstrual Cycle Effect on Cognition?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Research on menstrual cycle effects on cognition faces challenges in consistency and generalizability.
• Existing studies often use limited populations, like undergraduates, which may not apply to working women.
• Cognitive processes crucial for daily life and work require further investigation for ecological validity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle in a sample of young nurses.
• To assess cognitive flexibility, divided attention, response inhibition, and working memory.
• To examine the influence of workload on menstrual cycle-related cognitive variations.

Main Methods:

• A mini-computerized cognitive battery was developed to assess key mental skills.
• Participants completed the battery during menses, late-follicular, and mid-luteal phases.
• Participants were categorized into low- and high-workload groups based on subjective ratings.

Main Results:

• A general cognitive advantage was observed during the mid-luteal phase.
• Workload was found to modulate the menstrual cycle's effect on cognition.
• The mid-luteal cognitive advantage in divided attention and response inhibition was only evident in the low-workload group.

Conclusions:

• The mid-luteal phase may offer a cognitive advantage, but this is influenced by workload.
• A specific workload threshold might be necessary for typical neuro-steroid interactions affecting cognition.
• Future research should focus on the cognitive functioning of the cycling brain within occupational contexts and varying workloads.