Menstruation does not affect brain function

LADIES, TAKE NOTE! Menstruating does not affect your working memory, cognitive bias or ability to pay attention on different tasks at once, say scientists who contradict the belief that anyone who is on their period is not working at top mental pitch.

Researchers examined the three aspects of cognition across two menstrual cycles, and found that the levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone have no impact on cognitive abilities.

While some hormones were associated with changes across one cycle in some of the women taking part, these effects did not repeat in the following cycle.

Overall, none of the hormones the team studied had any replicable, consistent effect on the participants’ cognition, according to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

“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,” said Brigitte Leeners, from University Hospital of Zurich.

Wondering if this anecdotal evidence could be sci- entifically proven, researchers set out to shed some light on this controversial topic. The study uses a much larger sample than usual, and follows women across two consecutive menstrual cycles.

“The hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle do not show any association with cognitive performance,” said Leeners.

“Although there might be individual exceptions,” she said.