Psychology In The News | Are Menstrual Cycles and Cognitive Abilities Linked?

Research by the UCL Institute of Sport, Exercise, and Health challenges long-held assumptions about women's abilities during menstruation. Published in Neuropsychologia, the research involved 241 participants, including 96 men and 47 women who were not regularly menstruating (included for comparison) who completed a series of cognitive tests two weeks apart. These tests, designed to mimic mental processes in sports, assessed reaction times, accuracy, attention to detail, and anticipation skills.

Surprisingly, the study found that women who regularly menstruate perform better during their periods compared to other phases of their menstrual cycle. Despite reporting feeling worse and believing their performance was negatively affected, these women displayed faster reaction times and made fewer errors. This finding contradicts common beliefs and even the participants' perceptions about their abilities during menstruation.

The research team, led by Dr. Ronca and including experts from various UCL departments, hope that these results will spark positive conversations between coaches and athletes. They emphasise that how women feel doesn't always reflect their actual performance. The study's inception came from discussions with female footballers and their coaches, who noted issues with timing and injuries at certain points in the menstrual cycle.

The researchers believe that understanding how women's brains and bodies change throughout their cycles can help them adapt and improve their performance. They call for more research in this area, seeing their study as a crucial first step in comprehending how women's cognition affects their athletic performance at different points in their menstrual cycle.

Reference:

Read the full study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/... (accessed 7.6.24)

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS!

1. This study used a mix of experimental designs: the women who were menstruating engaged in a repeated measures design since they were studied at the different phases of their menstrual cycle. In addition, independent group design was used to compare cognitive performance between the women who menstruated and control subjects. a) What is the advantage of the repeated measures aspect of this study? b) What is the advantage of the independent groups aspect of this study?
2. Despite performing better, women reported feeling worse during their period. How might this reflect the influence of social stereotypes or expectations on self-perception?
3. This study challenges assumptions about female athletes' abilities during menstruation. How might these findings impact the field of sports psychology, particularly in terms of coaching strategies and athlete self-confidence?
4. The study used period-tracking apps to estimate menstrual cycle phases. What are the pros and cons of using such technology in psychological research?