How do menstrual cycle and emotional expressions affect attentional and memory biases?

Doğan, Dilara

While sex differences and menstrual cycle effects in emotional processing and memory are well-documented, findings remain inconsistent. The present study aimed to investigate how emotional facial expressions influence attention and memory, and whether these effects vary across menstrual phases and between sexes. A total of 184 participants (Mage = 20.67, SD = 2.18) were tested, including men and women in five menstrual phases: early follicular (n = 30), late follicular (n = 30), ovulatory (n = 28), early luteal (n = 35), and late luteal (n = 28). Emotional attention was assessed using a flicker change detection task, and recognition memory was measured with a surprise yes/no recognition memory task. Results revealed a robust happiness superiority effect in the flicker task: Changes involvi...