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Hemispheric asymmetry in spatial attention across the menstrual cycle

Hausmann, M.

Authors



Abstract

Functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs) are known to fluctuate across the menstrual cycle. The mechanisms of these sex hormonal modulations are poorly understood. It has been suggested that gonadal steroid hormones might suppress or specifically activate one hemisphere. However, recent studies suggest that high levels of gonadal steroid hormones reduce FCAs by its modulating effects on cortico-cortical transmission. To investigate the activating effects of gonadal steroid hormones on the interhemispheric interaction, a visual line-bisection task was administered to normally cycling women during menses and the midluteal cycle phase as well as to similar-aged healthy men. The results replicate previous findings of a sex difference in line-bisection as a function of hand-use and show that the hand-use effect fluctuates across the menstrual cycle. High levels of estradiol during the midluteal phase were related to a decrease of the hand-use effect. It is concluded that cycle-related fluctuations in levels of gonadal steroid hormones affect hemispheric asymmetry of spatial attention, presumably by interhemispheric spreading of neuronal activation.

Citation

Hausmann, M. (2005). Hemispheric asymmetry in spatial attention across the menstrual cycle. Neuropsychologia, 43(11), 1559-1567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.01.017

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Feb 25, 2005
Deposit Date Jun 5, 2007
Journal Neuropsychologia
Print ISSN 0028-3932
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 43
Issue 11
Pages 1559-1567
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2005.01.017
Keywords Spatial attention, Hemispheric asymmetry, Corpus callosum, Estradiol, Progesterone.