Investigating Cognitive Differences at Varying Times in the Female Menstrual Cycle
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Connolly, Jillian G.
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Female menstruation has historically been considered a taboo topic in western culture; however, a growing body of research suggests that cognitive differences may arise due to fluctuating hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. Over the past three decades, rodent research has established that estradiol, the prominent form of estrogen in reproductive-aged females, is crucial for proper working memory function. While this progress has been groundbreaking, rodent endocrinology research is limited in its ability to capture changes across the longer, approximately 28-day human menstrual cycle. There is a paucity of studies that examine the effects of monthly cyclical menstruation and the related changes in hormones in reproductive-aged adult women on cognition. The present research study examines differences in cognitive performance during menstruation when estradiol levels are lowest and ovulation when estradiol levels peak. Specifically, differences in episodic memory, working memory, and self-perception were examined through a two-part study using computer assessments and paper questionnaires. Our results indicate a significant increase in facial episodic memory recall during ovulation compared to menstruation, with no significant differences found for place recall ability. No differences in working memory or personality perception were observed, while minimal significance was detected for mood between the two phases. These results provide support for the role of menstrual cycle phase in impacting facial recognition while also suggesting that the results may be task-dependent, with more difficult tasks producing more evident results.
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Undergraduate Research Option Thesis