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The Neural Basis of Anxiety Across Menstrual Cycle

Received: 11 September 2018     Accepted: 20 September 2018     Published: 15 October 2018
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Abstract

The effects of estrogen on anxiety-like behaviors results are controversial. Menstrual cycle phase modulates anxiety-related neural function in women have not been sufficiently investigated. The neural base of anxiety possible incongruent across menstrual cycle was investigated in the current study. We studied the neural correlates of anxiety across menstrual cycle approach from cortical evoked magnetic field (MEF) activity under threaten cue stimulus by sLORETA in 14 healthy women. Evaluations included comparisons of the time-course, early vs. late processing (EP: 1-250ms; LP: 251-500ms after stimulus onset) during the menstrual (MC) and peri-ovulatory (OV) phases (MC vs. OV), using dynamic spatio-temporal analysis. Healthy women exhibited dissimilar anxiety–associated patterns of fear neuronal circuitry across menstrual cycle. Analyses revealed significant interaction of the time-course (EP vs. LP) and menstrual cycle phase (MC vs. OV) in the highest anxiety-associated regions. Inversely relation of the anxiety state and insular activation was revealed in the MC vs. OV phase. Results indicated that women can use different attention/cognitive resources in response to fear event across the menstrual cycle. This study presents the first evidence that menstrual cycle phase can modulates anxiety- related neural activation in women. Inconsistent anxiety subtypes may occur at different menstrual cycle. These features are an important consideration in understanding the effect of the menstrual cycle on the neural substrates of anxiety, and provide a potential contribute in pathophysiological or therapeutic implications for menstrual cycle-sensitive psychiatric conditions.

Published in International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11
Page(s) 28-39
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Menstrual Cycle, Anxiety, Brain, Go/NoGo

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    Ren-Jen Hwang, Ying-Chia Lin, Chi-Hsun Wu. (2018). The Neural Basis of Anxiety Across Menstrual Cycle. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 3(4), 28-39. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11

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    Ren-Jen Hwang; Ying-Chia Lin; Chi-Hsun Wu. The Neural Basis of Anxiety Across Menstrual Cycle. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2018, 3(4), 28-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11

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    AMA Style

    Ren-Jen Hwang, Ying-Chia Lin, Chi-Hsun Wu. The Neural Basis of Anxiety Across Menstrual Cycle. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2018;3(4):28-39. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11,
      author = {Ren-Jen Hwang and Ying-Chia Lin and Chi-Hsun Wu},
      title = {The Neural Basis of Anxiety Across Menstrual Cycle},
      journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {28-39},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20180304.11},
      abstract = {The effects of estrogen on anxiety-like behaviors results are controversial. Menstrual cycle phase modulates anxiety-related neural function in women have not been sufficiently investigated. The neural base of anxiety possible incongruent across menstrual cycle was investigated in the current study. We studied the neural correlates of anxiety across menstrual cycle approach from cortical evoked magnetic field (MEF) activity under threaten cue stimulus by sLORETA in 14 healthy women. Evaluations included comparisons of the time-course, early vs. late processing (EP: 1-250ms; LP: 251-500ms after stimulus onset) during the menstrual (MC) and peri-ovulatory (OV) phases (MC vs. OV), using dynamic spatio-temporal analysis. Healthy women exhibited dissimilar anxiety–associated patterns of fear neuronal circuitry across menstrual cycle. Analyses revealed significant interaction of the time-course (EP vs. LP) and menstrual cycle phase (MC vs. OV) in the highest anxiety-associated regions. Inversely relation of the anxiety state and insular activation was revealed in the MC vs. OV phase. Results indicated that women can use different attention/cognitive resources in response to fear event across the menstrual cycle. This study presents the first evidence that menstrual cycle phase can modulates anxiety- related neural activation in women. Inconsistent anxiety subtypes may occur at different menstrual cycle. These features are an important consideration in understanding the effect of the menstrual cycle on the neural substrates of anxiety, and provide a potential contribute in pathophysiological or therapeutic implications for menstrual cycle-sensitive psychiatric conditions.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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    T1  - The Neural Basis of Anxiety Across Menstrual Cycle
    AU  - Ren-Jen Hwang
    AU  - Ying-Chia Lin
    AU  - Chi-Hsun Wu
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11
    T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1573
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20180304.11
    AB  - The effects of estrogen on anxiety-like behaviors results are controversial. Menstrual cycle phase modulates anxiety-related neural function in women have not been sufficiently investigated. The neural base of anxiety possible incongruent across menstrual cycle was investigated in the current study. We studied the neural correlates of anxiety across menstrual cycle approach from cortical evoked magnetic field (MEF) activity under threaten cue stimulus by sLORETA in 14 healthy women. Evaluations included comparisons of the time-course, early vs. late processing (EP: 1-250ms; LP: 251-500ms after stimulus onset) during the menstrual (MC) and peri-ovulatory (OV) phases (MC vs. OV), using dynamic spatio-temporal analysis. Healthy women exhibited dissimilar anxiety–associated patterns of fear neuronal circuitry across menstrual cycle. Analyses revealed significant interaction of the time-course (EP vs. LP) and menstrual cycle phase (MC vs. OV) in the highest anxiety-associated regions. Inversely relation of the anxiety state and insular activation was revealed in the MC vs. OV phase. Results indicated that women can use different attention/cognitive resources in response to fear event across the menstrual cycle. This study presents the first evidence that menstrual cycle phase can modulates anxiety- related neural activation in women. Inconsistent anxiety subtypes may occur at different menstrual cycle. These features are an important consideration in understanding the effect of the menstrual cycle on the neural substrates of anxiety, and provide a potential contribute in pathophysiological or therapeutic implications for menstrual cycle-sensitive psychiatric conditions.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan

  • Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI2R), NYU School of Medicine, New York, USA

  • Department of Electrical Engineering, National Central University, Taiwan

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