The brain operates in a flexible dynamic regime, generating complex patterns of activity (i.e. neuronal avalanches). This study aimed at describing how brain dynamics change according to menstrual cycle (MC) phases. Brain activation patterns were estimated from resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) scans, acquired from women at early follicular (T1), peri-ovulatory (T2) and mid-luteal (T3) phases of the MC. We investigated the functional repertoire (number of brain configurations based on fast high-amplitude bursts of the brain signals) and the region-specific influence on large-scale dynamics across the MC. Finally, we assessed the relationship between sex hormones and changes in brain dynamics. A significantly larger number of visited configurations in T2 as compared to T1 was specifically observed in the beta frequency band. No relationship between changes in brain dynamics and sex hormones was evident. Finally, we showed that the left posterior cingulate gyrus and the right insula were recruited more often in the functional repertoire during T2 as compared to T1, while the right pallidum was more often part of the functional repertoires during T1 as compared to T2. In summary, we showed hormone-independent increased flexibility of the brain dynamics during the ovulatory phase. Moreover, we demonstrated that several specific brain regions play a key role in determining this change.

Brain flexibility increases during the peri-ovulatory phase as compared to early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle / Liparoti, Marianna; Cipriano, Lorenzo; Troisi Lopez, Emahnuel; Polverino, Arianna; Minino, Roberta; Sarno, Laura; Sorrentino, Giuseppe; Lucidi, Fabio; Sorrentino, Pierpaolo. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 14:1(2024). [10.1038/s41598-023-49588-y]

Brain flexibility increases during the peri-ovulatory phase as compared to early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle

Liparoti, Marianna;Sarno, Laura;Lucidi, Fabio;
2024

Abstract

The brain operates in a flexible dynamic regime, generating complex patterns of activity (i.e. neuronal avalanches). This study aimed at describing how brain dynamics change according to menstrual cycle (MC) phases. Brain activation patterns were estimated from resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) scans, acquired from women at early follicular (T1), peri-ovulatory (T2) and mid-luteal (T3) phases of the MC. We investigated the functional repertoire (number of brain configurations based on fast high-amplitude bursts of the brain signals) and the region-specific influence on large-scale dynamics across the MC. Finally, we assessed the relationship between sex hormones and changes in brain dynamics. A significantly larger number of visited configurations in T2 as compared to T1 was specifically observed in the beta frequency band. No relationship between changes in brain dynamics and sex hormones was evident. Finally, we showed that the left posterior cingulate gyrus and the right insula were recruited more often in the functional repertoire during T2 as compared to T1, while the right pallidum was more often part of the functional repertoires during T1 as compared to T2. In summary, we showed hormone-independent increased flexibility of the brain dynamics during the ovulatory phase. Moreover, we demonstrated that several specific brain regions play a key role in determining this change.
2024
brain; female; follicular phase; gonadal steroid hormones; humans; magnetoencephalography; menstrual Cycle
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Brain flexibility increases during the peri-ovulatory phase as compared to early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle / Liparoti, Marianna; Cipriano, Lorenzo; Troisi Lopez, Emahnuel; Polverino, Arianna; Minino, Roberta; Sarno, Laura; Sorrentino, Giuseppe; Lucidi, Fabio; Sorrentino, Pierpaolo. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 14:1(2024). [10.1038/s41598-023-49588-y]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1722151
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