Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study
Abstract Menstrual cycle influences approach-avoidance behavior in females as a result of fluctuations in sex hormone levels, but the underlying neuropsychological processes are unknown. Therefore, we collected the approach-avoidance behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) data of 27 naturally cycli...
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02660-w |
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| author | Danyang Li Chang Xu Xiaochun Wang |
| author_facet | Danyang Li Chang Xu Xiaochun Wang |
| author_sort | Danyang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Menstrual cycle influences approach-avoidance behavior in females as a result of fluctuations in sex hormone levels, but the underlying neuropsychological processes are unknown. Therefore, we collected the approach-avoidance behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) data of 27 naturally cycling women during early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases, focusing on the effects of estradiol and progesterone levels on women’s approach-avoidance behavior. Results found that women in the late follicular phase approached positive stimuli more quickly, and N2 amplitudes were the smallest for impulsive benefit-approach reaction. Women in the mid-luteal phase avoided negative stimuli more quickly, and P1/N2 amplitudes were the smallest for impulsive harm-avoidance reaction. Correlation results showed that estradiol levels positively predicted benefit-approach behavior, and progesterone levels positively predicted harm-avoidance behavior. Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) results suggest that women in different menstrual cycles have different sensitivities to approach-avoidance behaviors of different emotional stimuli, characterized by less consumption of cognitive resources in the early stages of emotional motivation processing, which is in part mediated by estradiol and progesterone. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between ovarian hormones and approach-avoidance behavior in women. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa861fbd7eac4e67a44a330d7ddb5456 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa861fbd7eac4e67a44a330d7ddb54562025-08-20T03:03:20ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-04-0113111810.1186/s40359-025-02660-wEffects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials studyDanyang Li0Chang Xu1Xiaochun Wang2School of Physical Education, Nanjing Xiaozhuang UniversitySchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of SportSchool of Psychology, Shanghai University of SportAbstract Menstrual cycle influences approach-avoidance behavior in females as a result of fluctuations in sex hormone levels, but the underlying neuropsychological processes are unknown. Therefore, we collected the approach-avoidance behavior and electroencephalogram (EEG) data of 27 naturally cycling women during early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases, focusing on the effects of estradiol and progesterone levels on women’s approach-avoidance behavior. Results found that women in the late follicular phase approached positive stimuli more quickly, and N2 amplitudes were the smallest for impulsive benefit-approach reaction. Women in the mid-luteal phase avoided negative stimuli more quickly, and P1/N2 amplitudes were the smallest for impulsive harm-avoidance reaction. Correlation results showed that estradiol levels positively predicted benefit-approach behavior, and progesterone levels positively predicted harm-avoidance behavior. Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) results suggest that women in different menstrual cycles have different sensitivities to approach-avoidance behaviors of different emotional stimuli, characterized by less consumption of cognitive resources in the early stages of emotional motivation processing, which is in part mediated by estradiol and progesterone. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between ovarian hormones and approach-avoidance behavior in women.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02660-wMenstrual cycleApproach-avoidance behaviorERPEstradiolProgesterone |
| spellingShingle | Danyang Li Chang Xu Xiaochun Wang Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study BMC Psychology Menstrual cycle Approach-avoidance behavior ERP Estradiol Progesterone |
| title | Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study |
| title_full | Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study |
| title_fullStr | Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study |
| title_short | Effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach-avoidance behaviors in women: a behavioral and event-related potentials study |
| title_sort | effects of menstrual cycle phases on approach avoidance behaviors in women a behavioral and event related potentials study |
| topic | Menstrual cycle Approach-avoidance behavior ERP Estradiol Progesterone |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02660-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danyangli effectsofmenstrualcyclephasesonapproachavoidancebehaviorsinwomenabehavioralandeventrelatedpotentialsstudy AT changxu effectsofmenstrualcyclephasesonapproachavoidancebehaviorsinwomenabehavioralandeventrelatedpotentialsstudy AT xiaochunwang effectsofmenstrualcyclephasesonapproachavoidancebehaviorsinwomenabehavioralandeventrelatedpotentialsstudy |