Changes in Mood and Autonomic Functioning During the Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

ABSTRACT The autonomic nervous system activity and mood ratings of 12 women were studied 6 days a week for a complete menstrual cycle. The daily procedure consisted of a resting period, a series of 5 mild tones, time estimation (TE), and reaction time (RT) trials, and a final resting period. Significant increase in heart rate (HR), respiration rate, and body temperature, and a significant decrease in resting skin conductance (SC) were found during the luteal phase. During the ovulatory phase there were significant increases in autonomic responsivity, as shown by greater amplitude of SC response in the TE and RT situations as well as in faster SC drop‐rate and greater HR variability. All of these autonomic variability measures coincided with a significant peak in feelings of elation and vigor. Significant age effects were that older women had higher basal body temperatures, less marked HR variability, and tended to have lower levels of SC, particularly in the luteal phase of the cycle. The results are discussed in terms of the psychophysiological effects of estrogen and progesterone.