Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Verbal Working Memory in Young Women

Abstract: This paper presents verbal working memory test results towards establishing the effects of menstrual cycle on working memory of women. The study comprised of a subject-set of twenty healthy young women with a regular 28 – 32 day menstrual cycles. Subjects were tested twice, once during their menstrual phase and second during their ovulation phase (on approximately day 12). Working memory tests were performed in a random sequence i.e. for some subjects during the menstrual phase (low estrogen level) working memory test occurred before their ovulation phase (high estrogen level) memory test and vice versa for other subjects. Study revealed that the test scores in the ovulatory phase were significantly higher than those in the menstrual phase. These findings suggest that higher levels of estrogen may improve working memory. Moreover, effects of estrogen on mood were also considered during both phases of menstruation. The fluctuation in estrogen levels seems to have an effect on women’s mood during menstrual and ovulation phases.