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  • Title: Changes in physiological, EEG and psychological parameters in women during the spontaneous menstrual cycle and following oral contraceptives.
    Author: Becker D, Creutzfeldt OD, Schwibbe M, Wuttke W.
    Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology; 1982; 7(1):75-90. PubMed ID: 7100370.
    Abstract:
    In a controlled cross-over design study performed with 14 female subjects, serum hormone levels, the EEG and a number of performance tests were recorded during spontaneous and oral contraceptive-controlled menstrual cycles. The mean alpha-frequency showed cyclic changes, i.e. slower alpha-waves during the follicular phase and faster alpha-waves during the luteal phase. Smaller cycle stage-dependent differences in the power of the theta- and beta-bands also were noted. An increase in several performance task scores was noted during the periovulatory period, whereas lowest performance scores were recorded during the late luteal and early menstrual phases. No such effects were observed in the same subjects while they were taking oral contraceptives. These results demonstrate that the gross electrical activity of the brain changes in a parallel with changed hormone levels. The changes in performance tests coincide with increasing or decreasing alpha activities in the EEG. The common underlying mechanism may be an activation of central nervous system monoaminergic pathways which are known to be involved in steroid feedback. Serum hormone levels, the electroencephalogram (EEG) and a number of performance tests were recorded during spontaneous and oral contraceptive (OC) controlled menstrual cycles in a controlled cross-over design study. The 14 female subjects, ages 18-28 years, all had regular menstrual cycles (26-30 days) and were on no medication for at least 3 months prior to the beginning of the experiment. 7 subjects were taking OCs for 1 month prior to the experiment, and the other 7 had spontaneous menstrual cycles. All subjects were investigated over 1 cycle. Upon completion of the 1st experimental phase, the subjects with spontaneous cycles received the OCs, and the other waited for the resumption of their spontaneous cycles. 4-6 weeks later they were investigated over another cycle. Thus each subject served as her own control. The midcycle rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the high estradiol and progesterone levels were not detected in the subjects ingesting the OCs. Following the LH peak, basal body temperature as measured sublingually was significantly increased compared to the preovulatory time and remained elevated until the immediate premenstrual period. Heart rate significantly increased prior to ovulation and reached maximal values on the day of preovulatory LH release. Values remained high during the early luteal phase and decreased prior to menstruation. These changes were statistically significant, and they were not observed under OC conditions. Using the conventional division of the EEG into 4 bands, analysis for changes of frequency shifts during the menstrual cycle revealed a drop in mean theta-frequencies during the luteal phase. No such cycle dependent changes were observed in the same subjects on OCs with the exception of one curiously high mean value on day 6. The mean theta frequency, under the 2 conditions, did not differ significantly. A slight but significant rise from low values was noted in the alpha frequency, before ovulation, and highest alpha frequencies were recorded during the midluteal phase. Such changes were not observed under OC conditions. An increase in several performance tasks was noted during the preovulatory phase. Of the main psychological test variables, 11 probed to be significantly correlated with the stage of the menstrual cycle, with hormone levels, or with the body temperature. Lowest performance scores were recorded during the late luteal and early menstrual phases. No such effects were observed in the same subjects while they were taking OCs.
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