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Mechanisms underlying hemodynamic and neuroendocrine stress reactivity at different phases of the menstrual cycle
Author(s) -
Gordon Jennifer L.,
Girdler Susan S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12177
Subject(s) - psychology , menstrual cycle , hemodynamics , reactivity (psychology) , stress (linguistics) , developmental psychology , social psychology , clinical psychology , medicine , hormone , alternative medicine , pathology , linguistics , philosophy
This study examined the association of menstrual cycle phase with stress reactivity as well as the hormonal and neuroendocrine mechanisms contributing to cycle effects. Fifty‐seven women underwent a modified Trier Social Stress Test during the early follicular, late follicular, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Greater increases in cardiac index ( CI ) and greater decreases in vascular resistance index ( VRI ) during speech were observed in the luteal phase relative to other phases, while greater increases in epinephrine ( EPI ) was observed during the late follicular and luteal phases compared to the early follicular phase. Luteal phase estradiol predicted luteal EPI reactivity but not CI or VRI reactivity, while luteal phase EPI reactivity predicted luteal phase CI and VRI reactivity. Thus, cycle‐related changes in EPI reactivity may be a stronger determinant of cycle effects on hemodynamic reactivity than sex hormones per se.