The study followed 68 women across two menstrual cycles.
Apparently many women are convinced that their periods kill their brainpower.
Or, so says Professor Brigitte Leeners, author of a new study on the topic:
“As a specialist in reproductive medicine and a psychotherapist, I deal with many women who have the impression that the menstrual cycle influences their well-being and cognitive performance.”
The new study shows, though, that there is no link between hormonal levels and mental capacity.
Professor Leeners explained:
“The hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle do not show any association with cognitive performance.
Although there might be individual exceptions, women’s cognitive performance is in general not disturbed by hormonal changes occurring with the menstrual cycle.”
The study followed 68 women across two menstrual cycles.
Their levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone were measured, along with their cognitive performance.
The researchers could find no link between the levels of these hormones and memory, attention or cognitive bias.
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (Leeners et al., 2017).
