Behavioral Changes Associated with the Menstrual Cycle: An Experimental Investigation1

Fourteen female subjects were tested during the menstrual (days 1-4), follicular (days 6-12), luteal (days 17-21), and premenstrual (days 23-27) phases of their menstrual cycles. Of the tests used (arm-hand steadiness, galvanic skin response to an auditory stimulus, reaction time - simple and choice, time estimation, and digit-symbol substitution), only arm-hand steadiness showed statistically significant fluctuations over the course of the cycle. Daily self-ratings of various symptoms and moods showed no significant changes when the appropriate statistical techniques were used; parametric techniques suggested fluctuations in reports of pain, bloatedness, hunger, hours of sleep, and pressure of immediate academic work.