Are Women Cognitively Sharper While Menstruating? A New Study Found This...
Researchers found a female athlete's 'reaction time', 'accuracy' and 'attention to detail' are heightened when she is menstruating, challenging the prevailing understanding of how sports women perform during their period.
In many parts of the world, menstruation is considered to be a handicap and, therefore, stigmatised. In some cultures -- including those within the Indian subcontinent -- menstruating women are not allowed to do certain daily activities like entering the kitchen, for example. And, in extreme cases, they are also made to isolate. For some people, the idea of women leading normal lives and performing regular tasks during periods is unfathomable. These biases have seeped into many fields, including sports, where menstruating athletes are often excluded. But, findings from a recent study may change this perception.
According to a Guardian report, research suggests women on periods are mentally sharper, may make 'fewer mistakes' and have 'better mental agility', despite not feeling their best physically. The research was purportedly conducted by the UCL Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH), and published in the journal 'Neuropsychologia'.
According to the researchers, a female athlete's 'reaction time', 'accuracy' and 'attention to detail' are heightened when she is menstruating. It directly challenges the prevailing understanding of how sports women perform during their period.
How The Study Was Conducted
Research involved analysing data from as many as 241 participants (96 male; 47 female who were 'not regularly menstruating' due to contraception). They went through a 'battery of cognitive tests', and their 'reaction time' and 'error data' were collected.
What Did It Cover?
The research involved participants recording their moods; filling a questionnaire about their symptoms; the use of period-tracking apps to understand the phase of their cycle. The tests that were conducted ascertained their 'reaction times', 'ability to relate to visual information', 'attention', and 'anticipation of when something might happen' -- all of which were designed to 'mimic mental processes' during sports, per the Guardian report.
The Findings
It was found that while there was 'no group difference' in the accuracy and reaction times of male and female participants, women who 'regularly menstruated' were found to have performed better.
Dr Flaminia Ronca, the lead author of the study from UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science and ISEH was quoted as saying, "What is surprising is that the participants' performance was better when they were on their period, which challenges what women, and perhaps society more generally, assume about their abilities at this particular time of the month. I hope this will provide the basis for positive conversations between coaches and athletes about perceptions and performance: how we feel doesn't always reflect how we perform."