Relationships between ovarian hormone concentrations and mental rotations performance in naturally-cycling women

Circulating gonadal hormones have been linked to variation in the structure and function of adult human brain, raising question how cognition is affected by sex adulthood. The impacts progestogens estrogens are special interest due widespread use hormone supplementation. Multiple studies analyzed relationships between ovarian mental rotation performance, one largest known cognitive differences; however, results conflicting. These discrepancies likely part modest sample sizes reliance on self-report measures assess menstrual cycle phase. present study aimed clarify impact visuospatial relating task performance salivary concentrations. Across two totaling 528 naturally-cycling premenopausal women, an internal meta-analysis suggested a small, positive effect within-subjects changes progesterone MRT (estimate = 0.44, p 0.014), though this result should be interpreted with caution given multiple statistical analyses. Between-subjects differences within-subject estradiol did not significantly predict MRT. shed light potential effects endogenous exogenous action, proximate mechanisms modulating spatial cognition. • Tested associations rotations women participated. Progesterone positively predicted within subjects. No other or were found. Results cautiously risk Type I error.