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Attentional networks during the menstrual cycle

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 sparse, 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 two groups of women: naturally cycling (NC) – those with a regular menstrual cycle, and oral contraceptives (OC) – those using OC and characterized with low and steady ovarian hormone levels. We tested their performance at two time points that fit, in natural cycles, the early follicular phase and the early luteal phase. We found no differences in performance between NC and OC in low ovarian hormone states (Both phases for the OC group and early follicular phase for the NC group). However, the NC group in the early luteal phase exhibited the same pattern of responses for alerting and no-alerting conditions, resulting in a better conflict resolution (executive) when attention is oriented to the target. Results-driven exploratory regression analysis of E2 and P4 suggested that change in P4 from early follicular to early luteal phases was a mediator for the alerting effect found. 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 mid-luteal phase.