659
views
2
recommends
+1 Recommend
1 collections
    6
    shares

      One-Click Submission System Now Available for SO Preprints, learn more on how this works in our blog post and don't forget to check the video, too!

      scite_
       
      • Record: found
      • Abstract: found
      • Article: found
      Is Open Access

      The Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on Cognitive Performance: Spatial Reasoning, Visual & Numerical Memory 

      Preprint
      In review
      research-article
      Bookmark

            Abstract

            The menstrual cycle has been a topic of interest in relation to behavior and cognition for many years, with historical beliefs associating it with cognitive impairment. However, recent research has challenged these beliefs and suggested potential positive effects of the menstrual cycle on cognitive performance. Despite these emerging findings, there is still a lack of consensus regarding the impact of the menstrual cycle on cognition, particularly in domains such as spatial reasoning, visual memory, and numerical memory. Hence, this study aimed to explore the relationship between the menstrual cycle and cognitive performance in these specific domains. Previous studies have reported mixed findings, with some suggesting no significant association and others indicating potential differences across the menstrual cycle. To contribute to this body of knowledge, we hypothesized that there would be no significant relationship between the menstrual cycle and spatial reasoning, visual memory, and numerical memory. A total of 30 menstruating females from mixed geographical backgrounds participated in the study, and a repeated measures design was used to assess their cognitive performance in two phases of the menstrual cycle: follicular and luteal. The results of the study revealed that while spatial reasoning was not significantly related to the menstrual cycle, both visual and numerical memory had a significant positive association with the luteal phase. However, since the effect sizes were very small, the importance of this relationship might be commonly overestimated. Future studies could thus entail designs with larger sample sizes and include neuro-biological measures of menstrual stages and consequently inform competent interventions and support systems.

            Content

            Author and article information

            Journal
            ScienceOpen Preprints
            ScienceOpen
            9 August 2023
            Affiliations
            [1 ] Girl Up Emirates, Girl Up UN;
            Author notes
            Author information
            https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9212-6246
            https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0837-3920
            https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3076-5521
            https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9260-5710
            https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2024-5004
            https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5864-150X
            https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5682-3300
            Article
            10.14293/PR2199.000296.v1
            34990fd4-07a8-4540-a019-4159f862e576

            This work has been published open access under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0 , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Conditions, terms of use and publishing policy can be found at www.scienceopen.com .

            History
            : 9 August 2023
            Categories

            The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
            Medicine,Social & Behavioral Sciences,Life sciences
            menstrual cycle,menstruation,cognition,spatial reasoning,visual memory,verbal memory,follicular phase,luteal phase,cognitive performance,mental health

            Comments

            Abstract, title and references

            ● If the objective is clear

            ● It is clear what the study found and how it did it.

            ● The title is informative and relevant.

            ● Are the references:

            ● Relevant

            ● Recent

            ● If mentioned correctly

            ● Appropriate key studies are included in the

             

             

            Introduction/background

            ● Whether it is clear what is already known about this topic

            ● Clearly defined research question

            ● For this topic, if the research question is justified

             

             

            Methods

            ● The subject selection process is clear.

            ● If the variables are adequately defined and measured

            ● The study methods, if they are valid and reliable.

            ● Whether there are enough details to replicate the study

             

             

            Results

            ● Data is presented appropriately

            ● Tables and figures are relevant and clearly presented.

            ● Appropriate units, rounding, and number of decimal places

            ● Titles, columns and rows labeled correctly and clearly.

            ● Categories grouped appropriately

            ● The text of the results is added to the data.

            ● It is a statistically significant result.

            ● It is a significant result in practice

             

             

            Discussion and Conclusions

            Whether the results are discussed from multiple angles and placed in context without overinterpreting them

            ● If the conclusions respond to the objectives of the study

            ● The conclusions, if they are supported by references or results

            ● Are

            opportunities to inform future research

             

             

            Overall

            It is adequate to answer the objective

            ● Added more interest than was already known about this topic.

            ● If it is coherent in itself

             

             

             

            Abstract, title and references

            ● If the objective is clear

            ● It is clear what the study found and how it did it.

            ● The title is informative and relevant.

            ● Are the references:

            ● Relevant

            ● Recent

            ● If mentioned correctly

            ● Appropriate key studies are included in the

             

             

            Introduction/background

            ● Whether it is clear what is already known about this topic

            ● Clearly defined research question

            ● For this topic, if the research question is justified

             

             

            Methods

            ● The subject selection process is clear.

            ● If the variables are adequately defined and measured

            ● The study methods, if they are valid and reliable.

            ● Whether there are enough details to replicate the study

             

             

            Results

            ● Data is presented appropriately

            ● Tables and figures are relevant and clearly presented.

            ● Appropriate units, rounding, and number of decimal places

            ● Titles, columns and rows labeled correctly and clearly.

            ● Categories grouped appropriately

            ● The text of the results is added to the data.

            ● It is a statistically significant result.

            ● It is a significant result in practice

             

             

            Discussion and Conclusions

            Whether the results are discussed from multiple angles and placed in context without overinterpreting them

            ● If the conclusions respond to the objectives of the study

            ● The conclusions, if they are supported by references or results

            ● Are

            opportunities to inform future research

             

             

            Overall

            It is adequate to answer the objective

            ● Added more interest than was already known about this topic.

            ● If it is coherent in itself

             

             

             

             

             

            2023-05-12 21:00 EDT

            Edit

            Reply

            You recommend this

            Prof.Dr.Mauricio Martí-Brenes wrote:

             

             

             

            2023-05-12 21:00 EDTYou recommend this

             

            Prof.Dr.Mauricio Martí-Brenes wrote:

            2023-10-15 09:10 UTC
            +1

            Comment on this article