By Mei-Mei Hu

Duke University

https://doi.org/10.55894/dv4.12

Abstract

This paper examines how hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle interact with the body’s stress system to affect thinking and memory. Estrogen and progesterone shift across the cycle, and these changes influence cortisol, the main stress hormone. Research shows that when cortisol levels rise—especially in the lutealphase—working memory, or the ability to hold and use information in the moment, often becomes less efficient. By connecting hormone patterns with known effects of cortisol on the brain, the paper provides a biological explanation for why many women notice changes in focus or mental clarity at certain times of the month. It also highlights the need for long-term studies that track hormones more carefully.