Dopamine (DA) has been found to play a critical role in goal-directed behavior with estrogen, a modulator of dopamine, in particular, influencing cognitive control. However, little is known about...Show moreDopamine (DA) has been found to play a critical role in goal-directed behavior with estrogen, a modulator of dopamine, in particular, influencing cognitive control. However, little is known about the modulatory effects of female sex hormones on performance monitoring, an integral component of goal-pursuit, as measured by the event-related negativity (ERN), across varying hormone concentrations of the menstrual cycle. Dopamine has been found to relate to pre- frontal cortex function by way of an inverted-U curve with deficient or surplus levels resulting in impaired performance. The aim of the present study is to assess if the ERN differs between the early follicular and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle, in response to varying estrogen and progesterone concentrations, and if the direction of this effect is modulated by baseline dopamine as measured by eyeblink rate (an indirect index of dopaminergic functioning). A within-subject, counterbalanced, design was employed to assess EEG data of 41 natural- cycling women using the Flanker paradigm during the early follicular, when estradiol and progesterone are low, and midluteal, when estradiol and progesterone are high, phases of the menstrual cycle. It was hypothesized that baseline dopamine, as indexed by eyeblink rate, in the early follicular phase influenced performance monitoring, as indexed by event-related negativity (ERN), in the luteal phase. The main results analyzing the effect of correctness and menstrual phase on the ERN, using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA, was nonsignificant indicating no difference in performance monitoring across varying sex hormones of the menstrual cycle. These findings contribute to a large body of research that report nonsignificant effects of female sex hormones on task-performance.Show less
Steroid hormones are frequently highlighted as an important modulator of women’s susceptibility for developing mood and anxiety disorders. One of the often-considered influences is the effect of...Show moreSteroid hormones are frequently highlighted as an important modulator of women’s susceptibility for developing mood and anxiety disorders. One of the often-considered influences is the effect of estradiol on the dopaminergic activity in the prefrontal cortex. Given this association it was investigated if natural levels of estradiol might affect women’s executive functions. The focus of measurement was the participant’s performance on the flanker task. It was hypothesised that women in a menstrual cycle phase marked by high estradiol show enhanced interference control and post-error adjustment. The study was conducted as an observational, natural group design and executed in an online format. Self-reports on the menstrual cycle were used for an approximation of the women’s current estradiol levels based on which two groups of women, either high or low in estradiol, were created. Main comparisons were made between 29 naturally cycling women in total and 48 men. The outcomes suggest that the cycle phase of women and the assumed levels of estradiol may not have influenced the processes of interference control or post-error adjustment. To interpret the obtained results, the measured constructs, interference control, error monitoring, and the menstrual cycle are discussed, and possible uncontrolled variables outlined. Future research is needed to further explore women’s executive processes and related neural correlates in the context of the menstrual cycle. Research in this field may provide better understanding of possible influences on women’s cognitive and emotional circuits in the brain, which will help to achieve a clearer picture of women’s psychological wellbeing throughout their life span.Show less
