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Effects of menstrual cycle on creativity

R Krug1, U Stamm, R Pietrowsky

  • 1Department of Clinical Neuroendocrinology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|January 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Women

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may influence cognitive functions.
  • Previous research suggests a link between estrogen levels and cognitive performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of menstrual cycle phases and oral contraceptive use on creativity and motor perseveration.
  • To explore the relationship between specific hormone levels (estrogen, luteinizing hormone) and cognitive abilities.

Main Methods:

  • Seventeen healthy women and 17 women on oral contraceptives were tested across three menstrual cycle phases.
  • Creativity was assessed using divergent thinking tests (semantic and figural abilities).
  • Motor perseveration was measured using the Mittenecker-Zeigeversuch.

Main Results:

  • Creativity significantly improved during the preovulatory phase in women with high estrogen (E2) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels.
  • Motor perseveration decreased during the preovulatory phase in naturally cycling women.
  • Oral contraceptive users showed no preovulatory enhancement in divergent thinking or decrease in motor perseveration.

Conclusions:

  • Estrogen and LH surges during the preovulatory phase are associated with enhanced creativity and reduced motor perseveration in naturally cycling women.
  • Oral contraceptives may attenuate the cyclical hormonal influences on cognitive functions like creativity.

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