Mental Imagery in Menstrual Cycle Phases

Hormonal fluctuations occur during the menstrual cycle and can affect cognition. For example, an increase in estrogen levels has been reported to temporarily enhance auditory perception of newly formed stimuli. It has been suggested that fluctuations in hormone levels can alter cognitive performance throughout the menstrual cycle because these fluctuations impact the neurobiology of the brain regions involved in cognition and emotion processing. Mental imagery (MI) refers to the mental process in which an individual imagines performing a movement without actually executing the movement. The effects of hormonal fluctuations on cognitive-perceptual skills have been mentioned above. In light of the above information, this study was planned to examine the relationship between menstrual symptom characteristics and mental imagery ability and to compare women s mental imagery abilities according to the phases of the menstrual cycle.