A team of researchers from the University of Abertay Dundee are researching the effect of women’s menstrual cycles on their cognitive abilities.
Many women report that they feel off balance and/or clumsy before or during the time of menstruation. Others report finding certain cognitive tasks requiring memory skills or concentration, more difficult than usual.
Researcher Noelle McAra from Abertay's School of Social and Health Sciences said “We’re not saying that women are in any way hampered by their gender, in fact we’re interested in how performance on different cognitive tasks can be enhanced at certain times during the menstrual cycle.
“Much is known about common side effects of the menstrual cycle such as headaches, stomach cramps and tiredness however little research has been carried out that is focussed on the positive effects it can have in terms of cognitive skills.
As part of her early research Noelle has also found that the date commonly believed to be a woman’s most fertile time of the month (usually the 14th day of the cycle) may be not be as accurate as previously believed.
The team are keen to expand their research sample and would like to invite local females to participate. Time spent at the University will be minimal and participants should not be on any kind of contraceptive medication or implant. If you would like to take part please contact Noelle McAra on n.mcara@abertay.ac.uk