The Effect of Menstrual Cycle on Metamemory, Everyday Memory and Prospective Memory in Women Aged 18-45 Years

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Payam Noor University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 M.Sc. of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Payam Noor University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The menstrual cycle is one of the biological cycles which has affect on human system because of hormonal fluctuation such as neural system and cognitive function.
This study investigated the effects of menstrual cycle on metamemory, everyday memory and prospective memory in women.
Methods: This field study was conducted on 60 women aged 18-45 years with natural menstrual cycle. They completed the questionnaire for 3 times; day 1-5 of menstrual cycle and 21th day of the first and third cycles they did past-test. Multi factorial memory questionnaire was used for measuring metamemory and Sunderland test for everyday memory. To assess prospective memory requested to do one predetermined task. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 15. Repeated measurements method and Mauchly's test was used to test the homogeneity of variances.
Results: Menstrual cycle did not affect on metamemory and contentment with memory, but affected on perception of ability and strategies (the two subscales of metamemory) and also everyday memory. Time-based and event-based prospective memory without recall get better during mid-luteal phase but both time-based and event-based prospective memory had no changes through natural menstrual cycle.
Conclusion: Hormonal fluctuation has no effect on the monitoring centers of memory during menstrual cycle but can have influence on women’s perception of ability of memory and consequently change their functions.
 

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