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Peters JR, Schmalenberger KM, Eng AG, Stumper A, Martel MM, Eisenlohr-Moul TA. Dimensional Affective Sensitivity to Hormones across the Menstrual Cycle (DASH-MC): A transdiagnostic framework for ovarian steroid influences on psychopathology. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02693-4. [PMID: 39143323 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02693-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Fluctuations in progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) across the menstrual cycle can exert direct effects on biological systems implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders and represent a key biological source of variability in affective, cognitive, and behavioral disorders. Although these cyclical symptoms may be most readily identified when they occur exclusively in relation to the menstrual cycle, as in DSM-5 premenstrual dysphoric disorder, symptom changes of similar magnitude occur in a larger proportion of people with ongoing psychiatric disorders. Studies investigating cyclical regulation of brain and behavior often produce inconsistent results, which may be attributed to a lack of focus on specific hormonal events and individual differences in related sensitivities. We propose a transdiagnostic Dimensional Affective Sensitivity to Hormones across the Menstrual Cycle (DASH-MC) framework, postulating that atypical neural responses to several key hormonal events provoke specific temporal patterns of affective and behavioral change across the menstrual cycle. We review prospective and experimental evidence providing initial support for these dimensions, which include (1) luteal-onset negative affect caused by a sensitivity to E2 or P4 surges (mediated by neuroactive metabolites such as allopregnanolone), typified by irritability and hyperarousal; (2) perimenstrual-onset negative affect caused by a sensitivity to low or falling E2, typified by low mood and cognitive dysfunction; and (3) preovulatory-onset positive affect dysregulation caused by a sensitivity to E2 surges, typified by harmful substance use and other risky reward-seeking. This multidimensional, transdiagnostic framework for hormone sensitivity can inform more precise research on ovarian steroid regulation of psychopathology, including further mechanistic research, diagnostic refinement, and precision psychiatry treatment development. Additionally, given the high rates of hormone sensitivity across affective disorders, the DASH-MC may guide broader insights into the complex neurobiological vulnerabilities driving female-biased affective risk, as well as potential triggers and mechanisms of affective state change in psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Peters
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | | | - Ashley G Eng
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Allison Stumper
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Michelle M Martel
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Ikarashi K, Sato D, Edama M, Fujimoto T, Ochi G, Yamashiro K. Fluctuation of fine motor skills throughout the menstrual cycle in women. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15079. [PMID: 38956128 PMCID: PMC11219923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65823-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The effect of the menstrual cycle on fine motor skills is unclear. This study determined whether the menstrual cycle affected fine motor skills and related neural activities. Nineteen women with regular menstrual cycles were tested for fine motor skills using two types of tasks: grooved pegboard task (GPT), which evaluates motor control with high freedom of movements, and force modulation task (FMT), which evaluates more complex and fine motor control with low freedom of movements. We also assessed primary motor cortex intracortical circuits and sensorimotor integration using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to reveal why the menstrual cycle affects fine motor skills. The present study indicated that fine motor skills assessed by FMT varied throughout the menstrual cycle while those measured by GPT did not. These results suggest that fine motor skills requiring more complex and fine control may be affected by the menstrual cycle. Additionally, changes in fine motor skills throughout the menstrual cycle may be associated with the severity of menstruation-related symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koyuki Ikarashi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan
- Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sato
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan.
- Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.
| | - Mutsuaki Edama
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan
- Department of Physical Therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tomomi Fujimoto
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan
- Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Genta Ochi
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan
- Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
| | - Koya Yamashiro
- Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, 1398 Shimami-Cho, Kita-Ku, Niigata, 950-3198, Japan
- Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan
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Wang JX, Fu L, Lei Q, Zhuang JY. Ovarian hormones predict cooperative strategies updating during multiple rounds of the prisoner's dilemma. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2024; 247:104307. [PMID: 38759584 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing research has focused on how ovarian hormones influence individual prosocial motivation and cooperation. However, most results remain ambiguous and contradictory. Here, we collected progesterone (PROG) and oestradiol from 62 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles to explore whether variations in ovarian hormones could flexibly change their cooperative preference according to their opponents' strategies in multiple rounds of a prisoner's dilemma (PD) game. Participants in different menstrual phases (32 in the follicular phase [FP] and 30 in the luteal phase [LP]) were asked to complete 20 rounds of PD games with each of three computer opponents holding different cooperative strategies. The results revealed that in PD games that did not require cooperation for increased outcomes, women in the LP (high PROG) reduced their cooperation rate more significantly than women in the FP (low PROG). In contrast, when the game design required reciprocity, simultaneously elevated levels of PROG and oestradiol predicted greater instances of participants choosing to cooperate. Furthermore, we found that elevated PROG levels accounted for women's elevated prosocial choices, regardless of the need to increase outcomes through cooperation. These results implied higher levels of PROG and oestradiol influence women's cooperative strategies resulting in increased social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xi Wang
- Mental Health Education Center, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Lulu Fu
- Department of Psychology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Qin Lei
- Department of Psychology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Jin-Ying Zhuang
- Department of Psychology, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
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Persaud P, Belfry GR, Heath M. Menstrual cycle status does not impact exercise-based changes in cerebral blood flow or executive function benefits. J Sports Sci 2024; 42:1061-1071. [PMID: 39052669 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2382566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
A single bout of exercise enhances executive function (EF) and may relate to an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). A limitation in the current literature is that biologically female participants are underrepresented given some evidence that changes in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle impact physiological and psychological variables. Here, biologically female participants completed separate single bouts of moderate intensity exercise (80% of estimated lactate threshold) during the follicular (FOL) and luteal (LUT) phases of their menstrual cycle. In addition, biologically male participants completed a same duration/intensity exercise session. Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was used to estimate CBF and pre- and postexercise EF was assessed via the antisaccade task. Results showed that resting MCAv was larger in the LUT than FOL phase; however, the exercise-mediated increase in MCAv was equivalent between menstrual cycle phases, and between female and male participants. Antisaccade reaction times reliably decreased from pre- to postexercise and frequentist and non-frequentist statistics demonstrated that the magnitude of the decrease was equivalent across FOL and LUT phases, and between female and male participants. Thus, results evince that menstrual cycle status should not serve as a basis limiting biologically female participants' inclusion in research examining exercise and EF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Persaud
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Glen R Belfry
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew Heath
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Pletzer B, Bodenbach H, Hoehn M, Hajdari L, Hausinger T, Noachtar I, Beltz AM. Reproducible stability of verbal and spatial functions along the menstrual cycle. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024; 49:933-941. [PMID: 38267632 PMCID: PMC11039678 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01789-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Recent studies have reported brain changes in response to ovarian hormonal fluctuations along the menstrual cycle. However, it remains unclear, whether these brain changes are of an adaptive nature or whether they are linked to changes in behavior along the menstrual cycle, particularly with respect to cognitive performance. To address this knowledge gap, we report results from 3 well-powered behavioral studies with different task designs, leveraging the advantages of each design type. In all three studies we assessed whether verbal or spatial performance (i) differed between cycle phases, (ii) were related to estradiol and / or progesterone levels and (iii) were moderated by individual hormone sensitivity as estimated by premenstrual symptoms. Overall, results of all three studies point towards a null effect of menstrual cycle phase and - to a lesser extent - ovarian hormones on verbal and spatial performance and provided no evidence for a moderation of this effect by individual hormone sensitivity. We conclude that there is substantial consistency in verbal and spatial performance across the menstrual cycle, and that future studies of intra-individual variation are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Hannah Bodenbach
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Marcel Hoehn
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Linda Hajdari
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Tobias Hausinger
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Isabel Noachtar
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Adriene M Beltz
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Russman Block SR, Klump KL, Beltz AM, Burt SA, Moser JS. Ovarian hormones reduce the negative association between worry and cognitive control: A combined neural and behavioral investigation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 161:106947. [PMID: 38183865 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased reactivity to response conflict and errors, processes governed by the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), have both been implicated in anxiety. Anxiety is also more common in females than males. Importantly, natural changes in ovarian hormones levels are related to fluctuations in anxiety symptoms in healthy and clinical populations, and ovarian hormones likely modulate prefrontal cortex structure and function. No studies, however, have examined the role of fluctuating ovarian hormones in the association between anxiety and cognitive control across the menstrual cycle. METHODS In this multimodal proof-of-concept study, naturally cycling females (N = 30 twins from 14 complete twin pairs and 2 participants whose co-twin was not in the final sample; age 18-29) provided saliva samples to assay for estradiol and progesterone and completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire for 35 consecutive days. At two time points, during projected pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory phases, they also completed the Flanker task while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging to probe cognitive control-related dACC activity. Multilevel modeling was used to examine within- and between-person effects of hormones and worry on cognitive-control indices. RESULTS On days when estradiol and progesterone were low relative to a female's own average (i.e., within-subjects effect), worry was associated with greater flanker interference. In females with higher estradiol and progesterone levels compared to other females (i.e., between-subject effects), worry was associated with less error-related dACC activity, irrespective of the day that dACC activity was assessed. CONCLUSION Findings suggest a protective effect of ovarian hormones on the link between worry and cognitive control. Associations between worry and conflict-monitoring were sensitive to daily hormonal fluctuations (within-person states), whereas associations between worry and error-monitoring were sensitive to mean hormone levels (between-person traits), suggesting that ovarian hormones are critical to consider in studies examining associations between anxiety and cognitive control in females.
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Cartier L, Guérin M, Saulnier F, Cotocea I, Mohammedi A, Moussaoui F, Kheloui S, Juster RP. Sex and gender correlates of sexually polymorphic cognition. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:3. [PMID: 38191503 PMCID: PMC10773055 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexually polymorphic cognition (SPC) results from the interaction between biological (birth-assigned sex (BAS), sex hormones) and socio-cultural (gender identity, gender roles, sexual orientation) factors. The literature remains quite mixed regarding the magnitude of the effects of these variables. This project used a battery of classic cognitive tests designed to assess the influence of sex hormones on cognitive performance. At the same time, we aimed to assess the inter-related and respective effects that BAS, sex hormones, and gender-related factors have on SPC. METHODS We recruited 222 adults who completed eight cognitive tasks that assessed a variety of cognitive domains during a 150-min session. Subgroups were separated based on gender identity and sexual orientation and recruited as follows: cisgender heterosexual men (n = 46), cisgender non-heterosexual men (n = 36), cisgender heterosexual women (n = 36), cisgender non-heterosexual women (n = 38), gender diverse (n = 66). Saliva samples were collected before, during, and after the test to assess testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Psychosocial variables were derived from self-report questionnaires. RESULTS Cognitive performance reflects sex and gender differences that are partially consistent with the literature. Interestingly, biological factors seem to better explain differences in male-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., spatial), while psychosocial factors seem to better explain differences in female-typed cognitive tasks (i.e., verbal). CONCLUSION Our results establish a better comprehension of SPC over and above the effects of BAS as a binary variable. We highlight the importance of treating sex as a biological factor and gender as a socio-cultural factor together since they collectively influence SPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Cartier
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mina Guérin
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fanny Saulnier
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ioana Cotocea
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
| | - Amine Mohammedi
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fadila Moussaoui
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sarah Kheloui
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Center on Sex*Gender, Allostasis, and Resilience, Research Center of the Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7331, Rue Hochelaga, Montreal, QC, H1N 3V2, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Hamidovic A, Davis J, Soumare F, Naveed A, Ghani Y, Semiz S, Khalil D, Wardle M. Allopregnanolone Is Associated with a Stress-Induced Reduction of Heart Rate Variability in Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041553. [PMID: 36836088 PMCID: PMC9967763 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Human survival and wellbeing require appropriate responses to stress, including a highly coordinated and efficient nervous system control of the heart rhythm. During stress, a greater disinhibition of the vagal nerve is reflective of poor stress adaptability, which may be relevant in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)-a debilitating affective condition thought to be marked by dysregulated stress processing and sensitivity to allopregnanolone. In the present study, women with PMDD (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 18), who did not take medication, smoke, or consume illicit drugs, and who were free of other psychiatric conditions, participated in the Trier Social Stress Test, during which we measured the high frequency of the heart rate (HF-HRV) and allopregnanolone using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Relative to their baseline, women who have PMDD, but not the healthy controls, experienced a reduction in HF-HRV during stress anticipation (p ≤ 0.05) and stress (p ≤ 0.01). Their recovery from stress was significantly delayed (p ≤ 0.05). Absolute peak HF-HRV change from baseline was significantly predicted by baseline allopregnanolone only in the PMDD group (p ≤ 0.01). The present study shows how an interaction between stress and allopregnanolone-which have both been separately implicated in PMDD-underlies PMDD expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajna Hamidovic
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - John Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Fatimata Soumare
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Aamina Naveed
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Yaseen Ghani
- Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, 355 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Selma Semiz
- Department of Psychology, Leiden University, Rapenburg 70, 2311 EZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dina Khalil
- Education Development Center, 300 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2010, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | - Margaret Wardle
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 W. Harrison St., 1009 BSB, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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Sex differences in cognitive processing: An integrative review of electrophysiological findings. Biol Psychol 2022; 172:108370. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Xu M, Chen D, Li H, Wang H, Yang LZ. The Cycling Brain in the Workplace: Does Workload Modulate the Menstrual Cycle Effect on Cognition? Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:856276. [PMID: 35722191 PMCID: PMC9201761 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.856276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent decades have witnessed increased research efforts to clarify how the menstrual cycle influence females’ cognitive and emotional functions. Despite noticeable progress, the research field faces the challenges of inconsistency and low generalizability of research findings. Females of reproductive ages are a heterogeneous population. Generalizing the results of female undergraduates to women in the workplace might be problematic. Furthermore, the critical cognitive processes for daily life and work deserve additional research efforts for improved ecological validity. Thus, this study investigates cognitive performance across the menstrual cycle using a sample of young nurses with similar duties. We developed a mini-computerized cognitive battery to assess four mental skills critical for nursing work: cognitive flexibility, divided attention, response inhibition, and working memory. Participants completed the cognitive battery at menses, late-follicular, and mid-luteal phases. In addition, they were classified into low- and high workload groups according to their subjective workload ratings. Our results demonstrate a general mid-luteal cognitive advantage. Besides, this study reveals preliminary evidence that workload modulates the menstrual cycle effect on cognition. Only females of low workload manifest the mid-luteal cognitive advantage on divided attention and response inhibition, implying that a suitable workload threshold might be necessary for regular neuro-steroid interactions. Thus, this study advocates the significance of research focusing on the cycling brain under workloads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xu
- Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Dandan Chen
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Hai Li
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Hongzhi Wang
- Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Hongzhi Wang,
| | - Li-Zhuang Yang
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
- Li-Zhuang Yang,
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Palmero LB, Martínez-Pérez V, Tortajada M, Campoy G, Fuentes LJ. Mid-luteal phase progesterone effects on vigilance tasks are modulated by women's chronotype. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 140:105722. [PMID: 35316685 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study we assessed the effects of progesterone on vigilance tasks that require sustained attention. In contrast to previous research, we differentiated two components of vigilance: the exogenous component, involved in monotonous and tedious tasks such as the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT); and the endogenous component, involved in tasks that require cognitive control such as the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). METHODS A sample of 32 female participants differing in extreme chronotypes were tested at their optimal and non-optimal time-of-day, as secretion of sex hormones follows biological rhythms. Ovulation tests that measure the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine were used to minimize methodological errors. Women of Morning-type or Evening-type chronotypes completed 4 experimental sessions of the two attentional tasks when they were in their follicular (low progesterone level) and mid-luteal (high progesterone level) phases, both in the morning (8:00 AM) and the evening (8:30 PM). RESULTS Compared with the follicular phase, performance in the mid-luteal phase improved in the Morning-type participants and worsened in the Evening-type participants. This pattern of results was observed only when testing occurred at the optimal time-of-day and with both the PVT and the SART tasks. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the simultaneous presence of both progesterone and cortisol at 8:00 AM may explain the benefit observed in Morning-type females. In contrast, the low concentration of cortisol along with the reduced benefit of mid-luteal phase progesterone in the evening may account for the worsening in performance observed in Evening-type females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía B Palmero
- Departamento de Psicología Básica y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Víctor Martínez-Pérez
- Departamento de Psicología Básica y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Miriam Tortajada
- Departamento de Psicología Básica y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Guillermo Campoy
- Departamento de Psicología Básica y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Luis J Fuentes
- Departamento de Psicología Básica y Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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12
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Cohen ZZ, Gotlieb N, Erez O, Wiznitzer A, Arbel O, Matas D, Koren L, Henik A. Attentional networks during the menstrual cycle. Behav Brain Res 2022; 425:113817. [PMID: 35231499 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The menstrual cycle is characterized partially by fluctuations of the ovarian hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4), which are implicated in the regulation of cognition. Research on attention in the different stages of the menstrual cycle is eclectic with discrepancies in attention definitions, and the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting and executive) and their interaction were not explored during the menstrual cycle. In the current study, we used the ANT-I (attentional network test - interactions) to examine naturally cycling women (NC) and women using oral contraceptives (OC). We tested their performance at two time points that fit, in natural cycles, the follicular phase and the luteal phase. We found no differences in performance between the two time points (day 4 / day 18) for the OC group: the response pattern replicated known ANT-I findings. However, the NC group showed differences between the two time points. In the follicular phase, responses replicated known ANT-I results, but in the luteal phase, alertness did not interact with executive and orienting networks, resulting in a larger congruency effect (executive network) when attention was not oriented to the target in alerting and no alerting conditions. Results-driven exploratory regression analysis of E2 and P4 suggested that change in P4 from the follicular phase/day 4 to the luteal phase/day 18 was a mediator for the alerting effect found between groups. In conclusion, the alerting state, found with or without alertness manipulation, suggests that there is a progesterone-mediated activation of the alerting system during the luteal phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahira Z Cohen
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Neta Gotlieb
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, California, United States.
| | - Offer Erez
- Soroka University Medical Center and School of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Arnon Wiznitzer
- Rabin Medical Center and Sacker faculty of medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | - Oded Arbel
- Mindfulness Clinic, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Devorah Matas
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Lee Koren
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Avishai Henik
- Department of Psychology and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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13
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Hamidovic A, Dang N, Khalil D, Sun J. Association between Neuroticism and Premenstrual Affective/Psychological Symptomatology. PSYCHIATRY INTERNATIONAL 2022; 3:52-64. [PMID: 36381676 PMCID: PMC9644703 DOI: 10.3390/psychiatryint3010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroticism and premenstrual conditions share pleiotropic loci and are strongly associated. It is presently not known which DSM-5 symptoms of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual mood disorder are associated with neuroticism. We enrolled 45 study participants to provide prospective daily ratings of affective ("depression", "anxiety, "anger", "mood swings") and psychological ("low interest", "feeling overwhelmed", and "difficulty concentrating") symptoms across two-three menstrual cycles (128 total cycles). Generalized additive modeling (gam function in R) was implemented to model the relationships between neuroticism and the premenstrual increase in symptomatology. Significance level was adjusted using the False Discovery Rate method and models were adjusted for current age and age of menarche. Results of the association analysis revealed that "low interest" (p ≤ 0.05) and "difficulty concentrating" (p ≤ 0.001) were significantly associated with neuroticism. None of the remaining symptoms reached statistical significance. The late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is characterized by complex symptomatology, reflecting a physiological milieu of numerous biological processes. By identifying co-expression between neuroticism and specific premenstrual symptomatology, the present study improves our understanding of the premenstrual conditions and provides a platform for individualized treatment developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajna Hamidovic
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Nhan Dang
- Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Dina Khalil
- Department of Public Health, Benedictine University, 5700 College Rd., Lisle, IL 60532, USA
| | - Jiehuan Sun
- Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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14
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Estradiol effects on spatial memory in women. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113592. [PMID: 34560131 PMCID: PMC8578444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
To examine the role of estradiol in hippocampal-dependent spatial memory in women, 86 female undergraduates were tested in a virtual Morris water task (VMWT), a virtual radial arm maze (VRAM), and a mental rotation task (MRT) within a single daily session. The VMWT and RAM were also administered 24 h later to examine the effects of estradiol on memory consolidation. Women on oral contraceptives (OCs) or those who were naturally cycling and exhibited low estradiol (LE) or high estradiol (HE), as determined by salivary assays, were included. At the start of day two, the HE group showed superior spatial reference memory on the VMWT relative to the LE group, as evidenced by significantly shorter distances navigating to the hidden platform. The LE group also had the poorest probe trial performance at the start of day two compared to both other groups. There were no group differences in performance on the RAM or MRT. These results provide support for estradiol's role in the consolidation of spatial reference memory in women, and emphasize the differential sensitivities of various virtual memory tasks in assessing spatial memory function in women.
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15
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The influence of estradiol and progesterone on neurocognition during three phases of the menstrual cycle: Modulating factors. Behav Brain Res 2022; 417:113593. [PMID: 34560130 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol is an ovarian steroid hormone that peaks shortly before ovulation and significantly affects various brain regions and neurotransmitter systems, with similar and differential effects with progesterone, another ovarian hormone. Studies investigating the neurocognitive processes during the menstrual cycle have focused on the early follicular phase (EFP) characterized by low estradiol and progesterone levels and the mid-luteal phase (MLP) with high estradiol and progesterone levels. However, most studies have failed to include the ovulatory phase, characterized by high estradiol and low progesterone levels. Given the various hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle, we revisited studies suggesting that the menstrual cycle did not affect verbal and spatial abilities and observed that many contain mixed results. Comparing these studies makes it possible to identify relevant modulating factors, such as sample size, participant age, accurate selection of days for testing, asymmetrical practice effects, genetic polymorphisms, and task difficulty. More robust findings are related to improved mental rotation capacity during EFP with challenging tasks and differences in brain activation among menstrual cycle phases during the execution of spatial and verbal tasks. During MLP, less robust findings were observed, possibly modulated by the complex effects of the two hormones on the brain. In conclusion, we propose that it is crucial to include all three menstrual cycle phases and consider these modulating factors to avoid confounding findings.
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16
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Dang N, Khalil D, Sun J, Naveed A, Soumare F, Hamidovic A. Waist Circumference and Its Association With Premenstrual Food Craving: The PHASE Longitudinal Study. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:784316. [PMID: 35573360 PMCID: PMC9091555 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.784316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral adiposity is a significant marker of all-cause mortality. Reproductive age women are at a considerable risk for developing visceral adiposity; however, the associated factors are poorly understood. The proposed study evaluated whether food craving experienced during the premenstrual period is associated with waist circumference. Forty-six women (mean BMI = 24.36) prospectively provided daily ratings of food craving across two-three menstrual cycles (122 cycles total). Their premenstrual rating of food craving was contrasted against food craving in the follicular phase to derive a corrected summary score of the premenstrual food craving increase. Study groups were divided into normal (n = 26) and obese (n = 20) based on the 80 cm waist circumference cutoff signifying an increase in risk. Waist circumference category was significantly associated with premenstrual food cravings [F (1,44) = 5.12, p = 0.028]. Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test (95% family-wise confidence level) showed that the mean score for the food craving effect size was 0.35 higher for the abdominally obese vs. normal study groups (95% CI: 0.039 to 0.67). The result was statistically significant even following inclusion of BMI in the model, pointing to a particularly dangerous process of central fat accumulation. The present study establishes an association between temporal vulnerability to an increased food-related behavior and a marker of metabolic abnormality risk (i.e., waist circumference), thereby forming a basis for integrating the premenstruum as a viable intervention target for this at-risk sex and age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhan Dang
- Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Dina Khalil
- Department of Public Health, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL, United States
| | - Jiehuan Sun
- Department of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Aamina Naveed
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Fatimata Soumare
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ajna Hamidovic
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
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17
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Alkanat M, Özdemir Alkanat H, Akgün E. Effects of menstrual cycle on divided attention in dual-task performance. Somatosens Mot Res 2021; 38:287-293. [PMID: 34463190 DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2021.1968370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Monthly hormonal fluctuation in women causes changes in peripheral systems and central nervous system structure and functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of menstrual cycle periods in women on attention during multitasking. Single and dual task conditions were tested in different menstrual cycle periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of forty women with regular menstrual cycles participated in this study. They were not any type of medication or hormonal treatment. Fine motor skills and Go/No-go tasks were performed on the 10th day of the late follicular phase, and then the tests were repeated on the 20th day of the late luteal phase. Fine motor tasks were performed by Annett's peg-moving test. Auditory stimuli were used in Go/No-go task. In dual tasks, both tasks were performed simultaneously. RESULTS There was no difference between follicular and luteal phases in single fine motor and Go/No-go task. In dual task condition Go/No-go task % error rate decreased in the luteal phase. Similarly, Go/No-go task reaction time decreased in the luteal phase. Non-dominant hand performance was increased in the luteal phase during the dual-task condition compared to the follicular phase. CONCLUSIONS When these results are evaluated together, declining error rates and reaction times indicates women successfully multitask in the luteal phase in dual tasks condition. This suggests that divided attention in women leads to better performance in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Alkanat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey
| | - Hafize Özdemir Alkanat
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey
| | - Egemen Akgün
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey
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18
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Narvaez Linares NF, Poitras M, Burkauskas J, Nagaratnam K, Burr Z, Labelle PR, Plamondon H. Neuropsychological Sequelae of Coronary Heart Disease in Women: A Systematic Review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:837-851. [PMID: 34062209 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Heart disease, such as coronary heart disease (CHD), is the leading cause of death among aging women. However, over the past years, the mortality rate has declined, resulting in an increased number of CHD survivors. In this context, research has uncovered relationships between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the development of neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that CHD can act as a precursor. Despite heart disease affecting both sexes, CVD research has significantly neglected women. Therefore, we conducted the first systematic review of neuropsychological sequelae of CHD in women to gain a clear portrait of the current knowledge of the association of CHD on women's neuropsychological status. We found that studies continue to include an insufficient number of women in their research. Our work also uncovered that there is variability in the definition of CHD by researchers (i.e., operationalization of the variable), which could explain inconsistencies across studies. Overall, we found evidence that supports the heart-brain disease hypothesis. To conclude, we provide several guidelines for future research involving the impact of CHD in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- N F Narvaez Linares
- Behavioural Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - M Poitras
- Behavioural Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - J Burkauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, Palanga, LT-00135, Lithuania.
| | - K Nagaratnam
- Behavioural Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, 125 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Z Burr
- Behavioural Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - P R Labelle
- University of Ottawa Library, 120 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - H Plamondon
- Behavioural Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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19
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Castanier C, Bougault V, Teulier C, Jaffré C, Schiano-Lomoriello S, Vibarel-Rebot N, Villemain A, Rieth N, Le-Scanff C, Buisson C, Collomp K. The Specificities of Elite Female Athletes: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:622. [PMID: 34206866 PMCID: PMC8303304 DOI: 10.3390/life11070622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Female athletes have garnered considerable attention in the last few years as more and more women participate in sports events. However, despite the well-known repercussions of female sex hormones, few studies have investigated the specificities of elite female athletes. In this review, we present the current but still limited data on how normal menstrual phases, altered menstrual phases, and hormonal contraception affect both physical and cognitive performances in these elite athletes. To examine the implicated mechanisms, as well as the potential performances and health risks in this population, we then take a broader multidisciplinary approach and report on the causal/reciprocal relationships between hormonal status and mental and physical health in young (18-40 years) healthy females, both trained and untrained. We thus cover the research on both physiological and psychological variables, as well as on the Athlete Biological Passport used for anti-doping purposes. We consider the fairly frequent discrepancies and summarize the current knowledge in this new field of interest. Last, we conclude with some practical guidelines for eliciting improvements in physical and cognitive performance while minimizing the health risks for female athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Castanier
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | | | - Caroline Teulier
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | | | - Sandrine Schiano-Lomoriello
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Nancy Vibarel-Rebot
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Aude Villemain
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Nathalie Rieth
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Christine Le-Scanff
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
| | - Corinne Buisson
- Département des Analyses, AFLD, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France;
| | - Katia Collomp
- CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France; (C.C.); (C.T.); (S.S.-L.); (N.V.-R.); (A.V.); (N.R.); (C.L.-S.)
- CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France
- Département des Analyses, AFLD, 92290 Chatenay-Malabry, France;
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20
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Leeners B, Krüger T, Geraedts K, Tronci E, Mancini T, Ille F, Egli M, Röblitz S, Wunder D, Saleh L, Schippert C, Hengartner MP. Cognitive function in association with high estradiol levels resulting from fertility treatment. Horm Behav 2021; 130:104951. [PMID: 33561436 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The putative association between hormones and cognitive performance is controversial. While there is evidence that estradiol plays a neuroprotective role, hormone treatment has not been shown to improve cognitive performance. Current research is flawed by the evaluation of combined hormonal effects throughout the menstrual cycle or in the menopausal transition. The stimulation phase of a fertility treatment offers a unique model to study the effect of estradiol on cognitive function. This quasi-experimental observational study is based on data from 44 women receiving IVF in Zurich, Switzerland. We assessed visuospatial working memory, attention, cognitive bias, and hormone levels at the beginning and at the end of the stimulation phase of ovarian superstimulation as part of a fertility treatment. In addition to inter-individual differences, we examined intra-individual change over time (within-subject effects). The substantial increases in estradiol levels resulting from fertility treatment did not relate to any considerable change in cognitive functioning. As the tests applied represent a broad variety of cognitive functions on different levels of complexity and with various brain regions involved, we can conclude that estradiol does not show a significant short-term effect on cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Leeners
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University hospital Zürich, 8910 Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, Switzerland.
| | - Tillmann Krüger
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Kirsten Geraedts
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University hospital Zürich, 8910 Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, Switzerland.
| | - Enrico Tronci
- Department of Computer Science, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy.
| | - Toni Mancini
- Department of Computer Science, University of Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italy.
| | - Fabian Ille
- Center of Competence in Aerospace Biomedical Science & Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland.
| | - Marcel Egli
- Center of Competence in Aerospace Biomedical Science & Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Hergiswil, Switzerland.
| | - Susanna Röblitz
- Computational Biology Unit, Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Dorothea Wunder
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Lanja Saleh
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Cordula Schippert
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Michael P Hengartner
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University for Applied Sciences (ZHAW), Zürich, Switzerland.
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21
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Wang JX, Zhuang JY, Fu L, Lei Q. Social Orientation in the Luteal Phase: Increased Social Feedback Sensitivity, Inhibitory Response, Interpersonal Anxiety and Cooperation Preference. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 19:1474704920986866. [PMID: 33487056 PMCID: PMC10355302 DOI: 10.1177/1474704920986866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclical fluctuations of the ovarian hormones estrogen (E2) and progesterone (PROG) have multiple effects on reproduction and development. However, little is known about the roles of E2 and PROG in women's social behaviors. Here, based on evolutionary theory suggesting social sensitivity and inhibition ability are conductive to maintaining social relationships, we provide evidence for the association between menstrual phases and social orientation. In Study 1, 78 women provided saliva samples and reported their intensity of behavioral activation/inhibition system (BAS/BIS) and interpersonal sensitivity at either of two phases of the menstrual cycle: late follicular phase (FP), and mid-luteal phase (LP). A significant between-subject association emerged, revealing that women with higher PROG levels reported higher levels of social feedback sensitivity, and women with relatively high PROG levels showed a positive association between their E2 levels and inhibitory response. In Study 2, 30 women reported their interpersonal anxiety and finished the social value orientation (SVO) measures at both late FP and mid-LP. A significant within-person effect emerged: women in the mid-LP, which is characterized by higher PROG levels, reported higher levels of interpersonal anxiety and SVO. In sum, these findings revealed that women's social orientation could fluctuate naturally with ovarian hormones across the menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Xi Wang
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Ying Zhuang
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lulu Fu
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qin Lei
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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22
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Wang J, Chen A. High progesterone levels facilitate women's social information processing by optimizing attention allocation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 122:104882. [PMID: 33068952 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian hormones exert an influence on social information processing, in which, however, the exact roles of estradiol and progesterone remain unclear. This study examines the specific influences of these two ovarian hormones on social information processing across the menstrual cycle using the emotional face flanker task and attentional network test (ANT). Twenty-six naturally cycling, healthy women were tested thrice: during menses, in the follicular phase, and in the luteal phase. In the emotional face flanker task, a significant positive relation was found between progesterone levels and reaction times (RTs) for sad faces, suggesting that high progesterone levels may activate the social monitoring system and allocate more attention to the social stimulus, which benefits individuals' survival and adaptation. In the ANT, a significant increase was found in RTs and accuracy during the luteal phase, suggesting that luteal women increase this accuracy by exerting a relatively conservative strategy of allocating more attention to the targets. Taken together, these findings indicate that high levels of progesterone may facilitate social information processing by optimizing attention allocation. Moreover, overactivation of the social monitoring system may make women more susceptible to stressors and promote affective disturbances, which may provide underlying pathophysiology of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Antao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
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23
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Allen S, Petersen A, Harrison K, Tosun N, Cameron J. Response to nicotine following overnight smoking abstinence during short-term progesterone treatment in women. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2020; 28:306-316. [PMID: 31464476 PMCID: PMC7048655 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical literature suggest that sex hormones impact tobacco use behaviors in women. The goal of this double-blind crossover laboratory study was to examine the effect of oral exogenous progesterone (200 mg twice per day) versus placebo on nicotine response using measures of motor speed and cognitive function in women following overnight smoking abstinence. We hypothesized that increased progesterone would blunt the nicotine response whereby producing less change in motor speed and cognition in response to nicotine exposure. Female smokers, age 18-35, were randomized to participate in two 9-day crossover testing weeks. Participants completed a lab session following overnight abstinence where they were administered nicotine nasal spray and asked to complete measures of immediate memory (IMT), delayed memory (DMT), word recall (WR), and finger tapping speed (FT). After the first 9-day testing week, participants resumed smoking and returned the following month to complete the identical lab session in the crossover condition. Forty-seven women were included in this analysis (n = 47). We found no differences in the magnitude of response for IMT, DMT, and WR between conditions. For FT, women had a blunted response to nicotine during the placebo condition. When examining the association between hormone levels and relative performance, we found increases in DMT, WR, and FT but decreases in IMT during the progesterone condition. We observed differences between progesterone versus placebo in relative change in some measures of nicotine response following overnight abstinence. Future studies are needed to further characterize this response. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Allen
- Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, University of Minnesota 516 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Ashley Petersen
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
| | - Katherine Harrison
- Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, University of Minnesota 717 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
| | - Nicole Tosun
- Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, University of Minnesota 717 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
| | - Jacquelyn Cameron
- William Beaumont School of Medicine, Oakland University 586 Pioneer Dr, Rochester, MI 48309
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Le J, Thomas N, Gurvich C. Cognition, The Menstrual Cycle, and Premenstrual Disorders: A Review. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10040198. [PMID: 32230889 PMCID: PMC7226433 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10040198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormones, such as estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone, have a significant influence on brain, behavior, and cognitive functioning. The menstrual cycle has been a convenient model to examine how subtle fluctuations of these hormones can relate to emotional and cognitive functioning. The aim of the current paper is to provide a narrative review of studies investigating cognitive functioning in association with the menstrual cycle in biological females, with a focus on studies that have investigated cognitive functioning across the menstrual cycle in females with premenstrual mood disorders, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In line with previous reviews, the current review concluded that there is a lack of consistent findings regarding cognitive functioning across the menstrual cycle. Most studies focused on changes in levels of blood estrogen, and neglected to explore the role of other hormones, such as progesterone, on cognitive functioning. Cognitive research involving premenstrual disorders is in its infancy, and it remains unclear whether any cognitive disturbances that are identified may be attributed to negative experience of mood and psychological symptoms or be a more direct effect of hormonal dysregulation or sensitivity. Suggestions for future research are provided.
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The cycling brain: menstrual cycle related fluctuations in hippocampal and fronto-striatal activation and connectivity during cognitive tasks. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1867-1875. [PMID: 31195407 PMCID: PMC6785086 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0435-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Estradiol and progesterone vary along the menstrual cycle and exert opposite effects on a variety of neurotransmitter systems. However, few studies have addressed menstrual cycle-dependent changes in the brain. In the present study we investigate menstrual cycle changes in brain activation and connectivity patterns underlying cognition. Thirty-six naturally cycling women underwent functional MRI during two cognitive tasks: spatial navigation and verbal fluency. While no significant performance differences were observed along the menstrual cycle, the changes in brain activation patterns are strikingly similar during both tasks. Irrespective of the task, estradiol boosts hippocampal activation during the pre-ovulatory cycle phase and progesterone boosts fronto-striatal activation during the luteal cycle phase. Connectivity analyses suggest that the increase in right-hemispheric frontal activation is the result of inter-hemispheric decoupling and is involved in the down-regulation of hippocampal activation.
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Laird S, Ney LJ, Felmingham KL, Gogos A. Hormonal Contraception and the Brain: Examining Cognition and Psychiatric Disorders. CURRENT PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH AND REVIEWS 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1573400515666190521113841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background:The combined oral contraceptive pill (OC), containing synthetic estrogens and progestins, is used by millions of women worldwide, yet little is known about its effects on cognition or on psychiatric disorders. The progestin component of OCs determines their androgenicity, i.e. whether the OC has androgen binding components with masculinising effects or antiandrogenic components with feminising effects.Objective:The present review discusses the literature surrounding OC use and cognition in healthy women. Given the important role that sex hormones play in psychiatric disorders, we also consider the influence of OCs on symptoms of schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and indirectly, sleep quality.Results:Research has shown that while there are no differences between OC users and non-users, androgenic OCs enhance visuospatial ability and anti-androgenic OCs enhance verbal fluency. Little is known about OCs effects on other cognitive domains, such as memory and executive function. There is little research examining OC use in schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders. There is some evidence that OC use is associated with depression, however the exact causality of this association remains to be verified.Conclusion:We maintain that future studies need to address several methodological limitations, such as separating OCs based on androgenicity to avoid the masking effects that occur when various OCs are considered as one group. As this review highlights several significant effects of OC use on the brain, the implications of OC use needs to be considered in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Laird
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Luke J. Ney
- School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, TAS, Australia
| | - Kim L. Felmingham
- School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrea Gogos
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Wong-Goodrich SJE, DeRosa HJ, Kee DW. Dual-Task Paradigm Reveals Variation in Left Hemisphere Involvement in Verbal Processing Across the Menstrual Cycle in Normally Cycling Women. Psychol Rep 2019; 123:2372-2393. [PMID: 31291167 DOI: 10.1177/0033294119862992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive performance and cerebral hemispheric function are known to vary with fluctuating levels of estradiol and progesterone across the menstrual cycle in naturally cycling females. However, the literature is mixed with regard to how each hemisphere may be affected by elevated ovarian hormones. To better understand this, the current study employed a dual-task paradigm to examine potential shifts in hemispheric involvement for a verbal problem-solving task across the menstrual cycle in 30 right-handed, normally cycling young adult females (18-21 years old). To our knowledge, no study to date has utilized dual-task procedures to directly investigate the potential shifts in hemispheric function across the menstrual cycle. Specifically, participants were tested during both menses and their estimated midluteal phase where they engaged in repetitive unilateral finger-tapping while concurrently solving anagrams silently or aloud. Analysis of finger-tapping interference during the dual-task conditions revealed that solving anagrams silently was lateralized to the left hemisphere while solving anagrams aloud yielded a pattern of more bilateral hemispheric involvement, both of which were consistent across both menses and midluteal phases. Analysis of cognitive performance, however, revealed that silent anagrams performance while tapping with the right, but not left, hand significantly increased during the midluteal phase. Consistent with a number of other studies using different methodological approaches, the current dual-task findings suggest that when ovarian hormone levels are putatively elevated, there is enhanced recruitment of left hemisphere resources while performing a lateralized verbal task.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly J DeRosa
- Department of Psychology, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, USA
| | - Daniel W Kee
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
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Person B, Oinonen KA. Emotional Memory in Oral Contraceptive Users: Negative Stimuli Are More Forgettable. Psychol Rep 2019; 123:2282-2304. [DOI: 10.1177/0033294119856554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent research suggests oral contraceptive use is associated with altered memory for emotional story information, blunted stress hormone responses to emotional stimuli, and altered structure or function of the amygdala and hippocampus. This study examined the extent to which oral contraceptives influence relative recall of (a) the spatial location of emotional versus neutral stimuli and (b) positive versus negative emotional stimuli. Participants (58 oral contraceptive users, 40 nonusers, and 37 men) completed an Emotional Spatial Memory test and were evaluated on short-term recall and long-term (one week) recall. There was no evidence for group differences in recall of the locations of emotional versus neutral stimuli. However, oral contraceptive users remembered relatively more positive than negative items compared with nonusers and men on the spatial memory test. This effect was driven by oral contraceptive users recalling fewer negative items than free cyclers. The results indicate that hormonal contraceptives may decrease immediate recall of negative emotional stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandi Person
- Department of Psychology, Lakehead University, Canada
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Effects of the experimental administration of oral estrogen on prefrontal functions in healthy young women. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:3465-3477. [PMID: 30306229 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5061-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
17-Beta-estradiol (E2) stimulates neural plasticity and dopaminergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex, which is critically involved in attentional control, working memory, and other executive functions. Studies investigating E2's actions on prefrontally mediated behavior in the course of the menstrual cycle or during hormone replacement therapy are inconclusive, with numerous null findings as well as beneficial and detrimental effects. The current study focused on the effect of E2 on attentional performance, as animal studies indicate that supraphysiological doses (i.e., above estrous cycle levels) of E2 have beneficial effects on measures of attention in female rodents. To translate these findings to humans, we administered 12 mg E2-valerate or placebo orally to 34 naturally cycling women in the low-hormone early follicular phase using a randomized, double-blinded, pre-post design. Behavioral performance was tested twice during baseline and E2 peak, where E2 levels reached mildly supraphysiological levels in the E2 group. Aside from mainly prefrontally mediated tasks of attention, working memory, and other executive functions, we employed tasks of affectively modulated attention, emotion recognition, and verbal memory. E2 administration had a significant, but subtle negative impact on general processing speed and working memory performance. These effects could be related to an overstimulation of dopaminergic transmission. The negative effect of supraphysiological E2 on working memory connects well to animal literature. There were no effects on attentional performance or any other measure. This could be explained by different E2 levels being optimal for changing behavioral performance in specific tasks, which likely depends on the brain regions involved.
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Role of Exogenous Progesterone in the Treatment of Men and Women with Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative Review. CNS Drugs 2018; 32:421-435. [PMID: 29761343 PMCID: PMC6235727 DOI: 10.1007/s40263-018-0525-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain problematic as many individuals are untreated or do not benefit from the currently available interventions. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel pharmacological interventions to treat SUDs. Evidence suggests that the female sex hormone, progesterone, attenuates the craving for and the euphoric effects of drugs of abuse. Research to date has demonstrated that progesterone may modulate responses to drugs of abuse and may have utility as a novel treatment for SUDs. A literature search was conducted to identify and examine studies that administered exogenous progesterone. Sixteen publications were identified, exploring the utility of exogenous progesterone or its metabolite, allopregnanolone, among a range of substances, including amphetamines (one study), benzodiazepines (one study), cocaine (nine studies), and tobacco/nicotine (five studies). Results indicated that exogenous progesterone and, its metabolite allopregnanolone, demonstrated preliminary efficacy as a treatment for substance use in both men and women. Notably, progesterone appears to target negative affect and augment cognitive functioning, especially among female substance users. Additional research is needed to explore the potential use of exogenous progesterone and allopregnanolone in the treatment of SUDs, including that associated with alcohol and opioids, but considering the current promising findings, exogenous progesterone and allopregnanolone may have utility as novel pharmacological treatments for SUDs.
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Roberts B, Eisenlohr-Moul T, Martel MM. Reproductive steroids and ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 88:105-114. [PMID: 29197795 PMCID: PMC5803442 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Although Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder shows (ADHD) male predominance, females are significantly impaired and exhibit additional comorbid disorders during adolescence. However, no empirical work has examined the influence of cyclical fluctuating steroids on ADHD symptoms in women. The present study examined estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T) associations with ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycle in regularly-cycling young women (N=32), examining trait impulsivity as a moderator. Women completed a baseline measure of trait impulsivity, provided saliva samples each morning, and completed an ADHD symptom checklist every evening for 35days. Results indicated decreased levels of E2 in the context of increased levels of either P4 or T was associated with higher ADHD symptoms on the following day, particularly for those with high trait impulsivity. Phase analyses suggested both an early follicular and early luteal, or post-ovulatory, increase in ADHD symptoms. Therefore, ADHD symptoms may change across the menstrual cycle in response to endogenous steroid changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethan Roberts
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
| | - Tory Eisenlohr-Moul
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2218 Nelson Highway, Suite 3, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, United States.
| | - Michelle M Martel
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 207C Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
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Abstract
The menstrual cycle is a physiological phenomenon that is accompanied by several hormonal fluctuations involving oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen and progesterone exert several physiological effects. There are many questions pertaining to the influence of the physiology of menstruation on anaesthesia. We attempted to find out whether the phase of the menstrual cycle can alter the physiological functions during anaesthesia, the perioperative management and outcomes. We performed a literature search in Google Scholar, PubMed and Cochrane databases for original and reviewed articles on the phases of the menstrual cycle and their relation to anaesthesia-related physiological parameters to find an answer to these questions. Many studies have shown that women, perimenstrually, may have increased pain perception, exacerbation of systemic diseases, vocal cord/peripheral oedema and post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Some of the other notable findings in most studies were sleep disturbances in the luteal phase (LP), increased occurrence of PONV in the ovulatory phase and a lower requirement of intravenous sedative and anaesthetic drug requirements in the LP. We found contradictory results concerning pain perception and PONV in relation to the follicular and LPs. However, we found that literature regarding the phase of the menstrual cycle and the haemodynamic response to intubation, anaesthesia-induced hypnosis and perioperative blood loss is relatively scarce. Thus, there is a need to conduct good quality research on these topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri S Kurdi
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India
| | - Ashwini H Ramaswamy
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India
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Sundström-Poromaa I. The Menstrual Cycle Influences Emotion but Has Limited Effect on Cognitive Function. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2018; 107:349-376. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Hidalgo-Lopez E, Pletzer B. Interactive Effects of Dopamine Baseline Levels and Cycle Phase on Executive Functions: The Role of Progesterone. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:403. [PMID: 28751855 PMCID: PMC5508121 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Estradiol and progesterone levels vary along the menstrual cycle and have multiple neuroactive effects, including on the dopaminergic system. Dopamine relates to executive functions in an “inverted U-shaped” manner and its levels are increased by estradiol. Accordingly, dopamine dependent changes in executive functions along the menstrual cycle have been previously studied in the pre-ovulatory phase, when estradiol levels peak. Specifically it has been demonstrated that working memory is enhanced during the pre-ovulatory phase in women with low dopamine baseline levels, but impaired in women with high dopamine baseline levels. However, the role of progesterone, which peaks in the luteal cycle phase, has not been taken into account previously. Therefore, the main goals of the present study were to extend these findings (i) to the luteal cycle phase and (ii) to other executive functions. Furthermore, the usefulness of the eye blink rate (EBR) as an indicator of dopamine baseline levels in menstrual cycle research was explored. 36 naturally cycling women were tested during three cycle phases (menses–low sex hormones; pre-ovulatory–high estradiol; luteal–high progesterone and estradiol). During each session, women performed a verbal N-back task, as measure of working memory, and a single trial version of the Stroop task, as measure of response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Hormone levels were assessed from saliva samples and spontaneous eye blink rate was recorded during menses. In the N-back task, women were faster during the luteal phase the higher their progesterone levels, irrespective of their dopamine baseline levels. In the Stroop task, we found a dopamine-cycle interaction, which was also driven by the luteal phase and progesterone levels. For women with higher EBR performance decreased during the luteal phase, whereas for women with lower EBR performance improved during the luteal phase. These findings suggest an important role of progesterone in modulating dopamine-cycle interactions. Additionally, we identified the eye blink rate as a non-invasive indicator of baseline dopamine function in menstrual cycle research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of SalzburgSalzburg, Austria
| | - Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of SalzburgSalzburg, Austria
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35
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Pletzer B, Harris TA, Ortner T. Sex and menstrual cycle influences on three aspects of attention. Physiol Behav 2017; 179:384-390. [PMID: 28694156 PMCID: PMC7115981 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences and menstrual cycle influences have been investigated in a variety of cognitive abilities, but results regarding attention are comparably sparse. In the present study, 35 men and 32 naturally cycling women completed three attention tasks, which are commonly used in neuropsychological assessment situations. All participants completed two sessions, which were time-locked to the follicular (low progesterone) and luteal cycle phase (high progesterone) in women. The results reveal higher operation speed during sustained attention in men, but no sex differences in selected and divided attention. Menstrual cycle influences were observed on accuracy in all three tasks. During divided and sustained attention, for which a male advantage was previously reported, accuracy was higher during the early follicular compared to the mid-luteal cycle phase. Furthermore, during selected and sustained attention the learning effect from the first to the second test session was higher in women who started the experiment in their luteal cycle phase. These results suggest a possible role of progesterone in modulating the ability to focus on certain stimulus aspects, while inhibiting others and to sustain attention over a longer period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Pletzer
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Ti-Anni Harris
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria
| | - Tuulia Ortner
- Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria
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36
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Leeners B, Kruger THC, Geraedts K, Tronci E, Mancini T, Ille F, Egli M, Röblitz S, Saleh L, Spanaus K, Schippert C, Zhang Y, Hengartner MP. Lack of Associations between Female Hormone Levels and Visuospatial Working Memory, Divided Attention and Cognitive Bias across Two Consecutive Menstrual Cycles. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:120. [PMID: 28725187 PMCID: PMC5495858 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Interpretation of observational studies on associations between prefrontal cognitive functioning and hormone levels across the female menstrual cycle is complicated due to small sample sizes and poor replicability. Methods: This observational multisite study comprised data of n = 88 menstruating women from Hannover, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland, assessed during a first cycle and n = 68 re-assessed during a second cycle to rule out practice effects and false-positive chance findings. We assessed visuospatial working memory, attention, cognitive bias and hormone levels at four consecutive time-points across both cycles. In addition to inter-individual differences we examined intra-individual change over time (i.e., within-subject effects). Results: Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone did not relate to inter-individual differences in cognitive functioning. There was a significant negative association between intra-individual change in progesterone and change in working memory from pre-ovulatory to mid-luteal phase during the first cycle, but that association did not replicate in the second cycle. Intra-individual change in testosterone related negatively to change in cognitive bias from menstrual to pre-ovulatory as well as from pre-ovulatory to mid-luteal phase in the first cycle, but these associations did not replicate in the second cycle. Conclusions: There is no consistent association between women's hormone levels, in particular estrogen and progesterone, and attention, working memory and cognitive bias. That is, anecdotal findings observed during the first cycle did not replicate in the second cycle, suggesting that these are false-positives attributable to random variation and systematic biases such as practice effects. Due to methodological limitations, positive findings in the published literature must be interpreted with reservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Leeners
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital ZürichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Tillmann H C Kruger
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School HannoverHannover, Germany
| | - Kirsten Geraedts
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital ZürichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Enrico Tronci
- Department of Computer Science, Sapienza Università di RomaRome, Italy
| | - Toni Mancini
- Department of Computer Science, Sapienza Università di RomaRome, Italy
| | - Fabian Ille
- Center of Competence in Aerospace, Biomedical Science and Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtsLucerne, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Egli
- Center of Competence in Aerospace, Biomedical Science and Technology, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and ArtsLucerne, Switzerland
| | - Susanna Röblitz
- Computational Systems Biology Group, Zuse InstituteBerlin, Germany
| | - Lanja Saleh
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital ZürichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Spanaus
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital ZürichZurich, Switzerland
| | - Cordula Schippert
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Hannover Medical SchoolHanover, Germany
| | - Yuangyuang Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School HannoverHannover, Germany
| | - Michael P Hengartner
- Department of Applied Psychology, Zurich University for Applied Sciences (ZHAW)Zurich, Switzerland
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Women in the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle have difficulty suppressing the processing of negative emotional stimuli: An event-related potential study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2017; 17:886-903. [DOI: 10.3758/s13415-017-0520-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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38
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Hansen S, McAuliffe J, Goldfarb B, Carré JM. Testosterone influences volitional, but not reflexive orienting of attention in human males. Physiol Behav 2017; 175:82-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Prefrontal activity decline in women under a single dose of diazepam during rule-guided responses: an fMRI study. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:3483-3495. [PMID: 27491682 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4746-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Daily life events confront us with new situations demanding responses to usual and unusual rules. Diazepam (DZ), a clinically important drug, facilitates the inhibitory activity of the GABAergic system. Prefrontal cortex, rich in DZ receptors, coordinates necessary resources to direct actions according to rules. The balance between excitatory and inhibitory activity is critical to achieve optimal function of brain systems leading to complex functions. Major sex differences in the physiological mechanisms of the GABAergic system have been reported. However, the differential influence of DZ on men and women in neural activity during behavior directed by frontal lobes remains unexplored. The ability of healthy volunteers to select responses following usual/congruent and novel/incongruent rules, and brain correlates were measured with fMRI under the administration of DZ and a placebo. 10 mg of DZ was enough to decrease the performance in a different manner between men and women. While reaction times increased in both men and women, women committed more errors selecting responses than men under DZ. Men demonstrated increased activity, while women demonstrated decreased activity in frontal regions involved in response selection of rules. These findings could have important consequences in understanding the differential influences of DZ between the sexes in complex daily life situations. More importantly, this study emphasizes the importance of understanding the differential effects on men and women of drugs widely employed by society, thereby achieves better therapeutic results and avoids side effects that the present study revealed to be different between sexes.
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40
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Pletzer B, Crone JS, Kronbichler M, Kerschbaum H. Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal Contraceptive-Dependent Changes in Intrinsic Connectivity of Resting-State Brain Networks Correspond to Behavioral Changes Due to Hormonal Status. Brain Connect 2016; 6:572-85. [PMID: 27239684 DOI: 10.1089/brain.2015.0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Menstrual cycle-dependent changes have been reported for a variety of functions, including cognition, attention, emotion, inhibition, and perception. For several of these functions, an effect of hormonal contraceptives has also been discussed. Cognitive, attentional, emotional, inhibitory, and perceptual functions have been linked to distinct intrinsic connectivity networks during the resting state. However, changes in resting-state connectivity across the menstrual cycle phase and due to hormonal contraceptive use have only been investigated in two selected networks and without controlling for the type of hormonal contraceptives. In the present study, we demonstrate menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptive-dependent changes in several intrinsic connectivity networks, including networks that have been related to emotion processing, olfaction, audition, vision, coordination, and two lateralized frontoparietal networks related to a variety of cognitive functions. These changes parallel behavioral changes in the functions associated with these networks. Changes in connectivity and changes in behavior occur during the same cycle phases. Furthermore, hormonal contraceptive-dependent effects were observed in the same networks and same target sites as menstrual cycle-related changes and were dependent on the androgenicity of the progestin component contained in the hormonal contraceptive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Pletzer
- 1 Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria .,2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria
| | - Julia Sophia Crone
- 2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria .,3 Department of Psychology, UCLA , Los Angeles, California
| | - Martin Kronbichler
- 2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hubert Kerschbaum
- 2 Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria .,4 Department of Cell Biology, University of Salzburg , Salzburg, Austria
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Lusk BR, Carr AR, Ranson VA, Bryant RA, Felmingham KL. Early visual processing is enhanced in the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 62:343-51. [PMID: 26366674 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Event-related potential (ERP) studies have revealed an early attentional bias in processing unpleasant emotional images in women. Recent neuroimaging data suggests there are significant differences in cortical emotional processing according to menstrual phase. This study examined the impact of menstrual phase on visual emotional processing in women compared to men. ERPs were recorded from 28 early follicular women, 29 midluteal women, and 27 men while they completed a passive viewing task of neutral and low- and high- arousing pleasant and unpleasant images. There was a significant effect of menstrual phase in early visual processing, as midluteal women displayed significantly greater P1 amplitude at occipital regions to all visual images compared to men. Both midluteal and early follicular women displayed larger N1 amplitudes than men (although this only reached significance for the midluteal group) to the visual images. No sex or menstrual phase differences were apparent in later N2, P3, or LPP. A condition effect demonstrated greater P3 and LPP amplitude to highly-arousing unpleasant images relative to all other stimuli conditions. These results indicate that women have greater early automatic visual processing compared to men, and suggests that this effect is particularly strong in women in the midluteal phase at the earliest stage of visual attention processing. Our findings highlight the importance of considering menstrual phase when examining sex differences in the cortical processing of visual stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany R Lusk
- School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Andrea R Carr
- School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Valerie A Ranson
- School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Richard A Bryant
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- School of Medicine (Psychology), University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
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Baker MD, Sloan HN, Hall AD, Leo J, Maner JK. Mating and Memory : Can Mating Cues Enhance Cognitive Performance? EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2015; 13:1474704915623280. [PMID: 37924193 PMCID: PMC10480785 DOI: 10.1177/1474704915623280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The literature on sexual selection and the social brain hypothesis suggest that human cognition and communication evolved, in part, for the purpose of displaying desirable cognitive abilities to potential mates. An evolutionary approach to social cognition implies that proximate mating motives may lead people to display desirable mental traits. In signaling such traits, one can increase the likelihood of attracting a potential mate. Two experiments demonstrated that exposure to mating cues-highly attractive opposite-sex faces-led people to display enhancements in declarative memory-a process underlying a variety of abilities such as resource acquisition, intelligence, and creativity. Experiment 1 showed that men (but not women) displayed enhanced memory for details of a story that was presented during exposure to highly attractive opposite-sex faces. Experiment 2 demonstrated that heightened displays of declarative memory reflect an enhancement in retrieval rather than in encoding. Findings contribute to the literatures on human mating and cognitive performance and provide novel insight into links between social processes and basic cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Baker
- Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - H. Nicole Sloan
- Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Alexandra D. Hall
- Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
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Zoghi M, Vaseghi B, Bastani A, Jaberzadeh S, Galea MP. The Effects of Sex Hormonal Fluctuations during Menstrual Cycle on Cortical Excitability and Manual Dexterity (a Pilot Study). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136081. [PMID: 26308341 PMCID: PMC4550432 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate whether hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle affect corticospinal excitability, intracortical inhibition (ICI) or facilitation (ICF) in primary motor cortex, and also whether the hormonal fluctuations have any effect on manual dexterity in neurologically intact women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty volunteers (10 Female, 10 Male) were included in this study. The levels of progesterone and estradiol were measured from saliva during the women's menstrual follicular, ovulation and mid-luteal phases. Motor evoked potentials were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous muscle. Single and paired-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) were delivered in a block of 20 stimuli. With paired-pulse technique, 3ms and 10ms inter-stimulus intervals were used to assess ICI and ICF, respectively. The Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) was completed in each session before the TMS assessments. Male participants were tested at similar time intervals as female participants. RESULTS Mixed design ANOVA revealed that GPT score in female participants was significantly lower at the mid-luteal phase compared to the ovulation phase (p = 0.017). However, it was not correlated with progesterone or estrogen fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. The results also showed that the effect of phase, sex and the interaction of phase by sex for resting motor threshold, ICI or ICF were not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Manual dexterity performance fluctuates during the menstrual cycle in neurologically intact women, which might be due to the balance of the neuromodulatory effects of P4 and E2 in the motor cortex during different phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zoghi
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bita Vaseghi
- School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andisheh Bastani
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shapour Jaberzadeh
- School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mary P. Galea
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
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Vierk R, Bayer J, Freitag S, Muhia M, Kutsche K, Wolbers T, Kneussel M, Sommer T, Rune GM. Structure-function-behavior relationship in estrogen-induced synaptic plasticity. Horm Behav 2015; 74:139-48. [PMID: 26012713 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This article is part of a Special Issue "Estradiol and Cognition". In estrogen-induced synaptic plasticity, a correlation of structure, function and behavior in the hippocampus has been widely established. 17ß-estradiol has been shown to increase dendritic spine density on hippocampal neurons and is accompanied by enhanced long-term potentiation and improved performance of animals in hippocampus-dependent memory tests. After inhibition of aromatase, the final enzyme of estradiol synthesis, with letrozole we consistently found a strong and significant impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP) in female mice as early as after six hours of treatment. LTP impairment was followed by loss of hippocampal spine synapses in the hippocampal CA1 area. Interestingly, these effects were not found in male animals. In the Morris water maze test, chronic administration of letrozole did not alter spatial learning and memory in either female or male mice. In humans, analogous effects of estradiol on hippocampal morphology and physiology were observed using neuroimaging techniques. However, similar to our findings in mice, an effect of estradiol on memory performance has not been consistently observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Vierk
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - J Bayer
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - S Freitag
- Department of Molecular Neurogenetics, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Falkenried 94, 20151 Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Muhia
- Department of Molecular Neurogenetics, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Falkenried 94, 20151 Hamburg, Germany
| | - K Kutsche
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Wolbers
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - M Kneussel
- Department of Molecular Neurogenetics, Center for Molecular Neurobiology (ZMNH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Falkenried 94, 20151 Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Sommer
- Institute for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
| | - G M Rune
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
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Walf AA, Koonce CJ, Frye CA. Progestogens' effects and mechanisms for object recognition memory across the lifespan. Behav Brain Res 2015; 294:50-61. [PMID: 26235328 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.07.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This review explores the effects of female reproductive hormones, estrogens and progestogens, with a focus on progesterone and allopregnanolone, on object memory. Progesterone and its metabolites, in particular allopregnanolone, exert various effects on both cognitive and non-mnemonic functions in females. The well-known object recognition task is a valuable experimental paradigm that can be used to determine the effects and mechanisms of progestogens for mnemonic effects across the lifespan, which will be discussed herein. In this task there is little test-decay when different objects are used as targets and baseline valance for objects is controlled. This allows repeated testing, within-subjects designs, and longitudinal assessments, which aid understanding of changes in hormonal milieu. Objects are not aversive or food-based, which are hormone-sensitive factors. This review focuses on published data from our laboratory, and others, using the object recognition task in rodents to assess the role and mechanisms of progestogens throughout the lifespan. Improvements in object recognition performance of rodents are often associated with higher hormone levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during natural cycles, with hormone replacement following ovariectomy in young animals, or with aging. The capacity for reversal of age- and reproductive senescence-related decline in cognitive performance, and changes in neural plasticity that may be dissociated from peripheral effects with such decline, are discussed. The focus here will be on the effects of brain-derived factors, such as the neurosteroid, allopregnanolone, and other hormones, for enhancing object recognition across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia A Walf
- Dept. of Psychology, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; The Center for Life Sciences Research, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA; The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, IDeA Network of Biomedical Excellence (INBRE), Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA; Cognitive Science Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - Carolyn J Koonce
- Dept. of Psychology, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA; The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, IDeA Network of Biomedical Excellence (INBRE), Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA
| | - Cheryl A Frye
- Dept. of Psychology, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; Dept. of Biological Sciences, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; The Center for Neuroscience, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; The Center for Life Sciences Research, The University at Albany-SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA; Institute of Arctic Biology, The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA; The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, IDeA Network of Biomedical Excellence (INBRE), Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA.
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Wassell J, Rogers SL, Felmingam KL, Bryant RA, Pearson J. Sex hormones predict the sensory strength and vividness of mental imagery. Biol Psychol 2015; 107:61-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2013] [Revised: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ovarian hormones and borderline personality disorder features: Preliminary evidence for interactive effects of estradiol and progesterone. Biol Psychol 2015; 109:37-52. [PMID: 25837710 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Revised: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cyclical fluctuations in the ovarian hormones 17β-estradiol (E2; estrogen) and progesterone (P4) predict emotions, cognitive processes, and behaviors relevant to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD); however, there are individual differences in sensitivity to normal hormone shifts. This study examined associations of naturally occurring hormonal changes with concurrent BPD feature expression. Forty women sampled for a flat distribution of the PAI-BOR (n=10 where T<50, n=10 where 50<T<60, n=10 where 60<T<70, and n=10 where T>70) provided four weekly saliva samples and psychological assessments. Across most outcomes (e.g., BPD features, felt rejection, anger rumination, negative urgency) P4 deviation (from one's person mean) moderated the effect of current E2 deviation (from one's person mean) among women high (+1 SD) in trait BPD features such that E2 deviation was negatively associated with symptoms only when P4 was higher-than-usual. Cyclical hormone changes (e.g., higher P4 in the luteal phase; E2 fluctuations at ovulation and in the luteal phase) may impact BPD feature expression among at-risk women.
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48
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Brötzner CP, Klimesch W, Kerschbaum HH. Progesterone-associated increase in ERP amplitude correlates with an improvement in performance in a spatial attention paradigm. Brain Res 2015; 1595:74-83. [PMID: 25446456 PMCID: PMC4302164 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian sex hormones modulate neuronal circuits not directly involved in reproductive functions. In the present study, we investigated whether endogenous fluctuations of estradiol and progesterone during the menstrual cycle are associated with early cortical processing stages in a cued spatial attention paradigm. EEG was monitored while young women responded to acoustically cued visual stimuli. Women with large mean amplitude of the event-related potential (ERP) (80-120 ms following visual stimuli) responded faster to visual stimuli. In luteal women, mean amplitude of the ERP as well as alpha amplitude, an indicator of attentional modulation, correlated positively with progesterone. Further, cerebral asymmetry in ERP amplitude in the alpha frequency band following target presentation was restricted to luteal women. Critically, early follicular women responded slower to right hemifield compared to left hemifield targets. In late follicular or luteal women, we did not detect a right hemifield disadvantage. Progesterone correlated negatively with RTs in luteal women. Therefore, whereas our behavioral data indicate a functional cerebral asymmetry in early follicular women, EEG recording reveal a physiological cerebral hemisphere asymmetry in the alpha frequency band in luteal women. We assume that a progesterone-associated enhancement in synchronization of synaptic activity in the alpha frequency band in luteal women improves early categorization of visual targets in a cued spatial attention paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina P Brötzner
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Physiological Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Klimesch
- Department of Physiological Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Center for Neurocognitive, Research, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Hubert H Kerschbaum
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Center for Neurocognitive, Research, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
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Kumari V, Hamid A, Brand A, Antonova E. Acoustic prepulse inhibition: one ear is better than two, but why and when? Psychophysiology 2014; 52:714-21. [PMID: 25476733 PMCID: PMC4407923 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We examined whether monaural prepulses produce more prepulse inhibition (PPI) because they might be more attention capturing (unambiguous to locate) than binaural prepulses. Monaural and binaural PPI was tested under normal and verbal and visuospatial attention manipulation conditions in 55 healthy men, including 29 meditators. Attention manipulations abolished monaural PPI superiority, similarly in meditators and meditation-naïve individuals, and this was most strongly evident for right ear PPI under visuospatial attention manipulation. Meditators performed better than meditation-naïve individuals on attention tasks (verbal: more targets detected; visuospatial: faster reaction time). Spatial attention processes contribute to monaural PPI, particularly with the right ear. Better attentional performance, with similar attentional modulation of PPI, may indicate a stronger attentional capacity in meditators, relative to meditation-naïve individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Kumari
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Sundström Poromaa I, Gingnell M. Menstrual cycle influence on cognitive function and emotion processing-from a reproductive perspective. Front Neurosci 2014; 8:380. [PMID: 25505380 PMCID: PMC4241821 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The menstrual cycle has attracted research interest ever since the 1930s. For many researchers the menstrual cycle is an excellent model of ovarian steroid influence on emotion, behavior, and cognition. Over the past years methodological improvements in menstrual cycle studies have been noted, and this review summarizes the findings of methodologically sound menstrual cycle studies in healthy women. Whereas the predominant hypotheses of the cognitive field state that sexually dimorphic cognitive skills that favor men are improved during menstrual cycle phases with low estrogen and that cognitive skills that favor women are improved during cycle phases with increased estrogen and/or progesterone, this review has not found sufficient evidence to support any of these hypotheses. Mental rotation has gained specific interest in this aspect, but a meta-analysis yielded a standardized mean difference in error rate of 1.61 (95% CI -0.35 to 3.57), suggesting, at present, no favor of an early follicular phase improvement in mental rotation performance. Besides the sexually dimorphic cognitive skills, studies exploring menstrual cycle effects on tasks that probe prefrontal cortex function, for instance verbal or spatial working memory, have also been reviewed. While studies thus far are few, results at hand suggest improved performance at times of high estradiol levels. Menstrual cycle studies on emotional processing, on the other hand, tap into the emotional disorders of the luteal phase, and may be of relevance for women with premenstrual disorders. Although evidence at present is limited, it is suggested that emotion recognition, consolidation of emotional memories, and fear extinction is modulated by the menstrual cycle in women. With the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, several studies report changes in brain reactivity across the menstrual cycle, most notably increased amygdala reactivity in the luteal phase. Thus, to the extent that behavioral changes have been demonstrated over the course of the menstrual cycle, the best evidence suggests that differences in sexually dimorphic tasks are small and difficult to replicate. However, emotion-related changes are more consistently found, and are better associated with progesterone than with estradiol such that high progesterone levels are associated with increased amygdala reactivity and increased emotional memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Malin Gingnell
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University Uppsala, Sweden
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