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Hormonal milieu influences whole-brain structural dynamics across the menstrual cycle using dense sampling in
Carina Heller1,2,3,4,5,6, Daniel Güllmar7, Lejla Colic8,9,10
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. carina.heller@uni-jena.de.
Nature Neuroscience
|September 27, 2025
Summary
Brain structure changes monthly, influenced by gonadal hormones like progesterone and estradiol. These widespread changes vary with menstrual cycles, endometriosis, and oral contraceptive use.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Neuroimaging
- Brain Structure Dynamics
Background:
- Gonadal hormone receptors are widespread in the brain.
- Their impact on brain structure, especially across the menstrual cycle, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spatiotemporal patterns of brain volume changes in relation to hormonal fluctuations.
- To examine these changes across typical menstrual cycles, endometriosis, and oral contraceptive use.
Main Methods:
- Utilized precision imaging techniques to analyze brain structure.
- Monitored four females over a monthly period, including cases with endometriosis and oral contraceptive use.
- Correlated brain volume changes with serum hormone levels (progesterone and estradiol).
Main Results:
- Observed significant spatiotemporal patterns of brain volume variation throughout the monthly period.
- In typical cycles, changes correlated with progesterone; in endometriosis and with oral contraceptives, changes correlated with estradiol.
- Volume changes were widespread, indicating coordinated hormonal influence.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal fluctuations, including those in diverse conditions like endometriosis and OC use, drive widespread structural brain changes.
- Structural brain dynamics are influenced by hormonal rhythms beyond typical menstrual cycles.
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