Female athletes have faster reaction times on day they ovulate, study finds

A study from University College London reveals that female athletes exhibit faster reaction times by 80 milliseconds on the day they ovulate, highlighting the impact of the menstrual cycle on cognition.

• Researchers at University College London found that female athletes experienced an 80 millisecond improvement in reaction times during ovulation compared to other phases of the menstrual cycle.
• The study focused on how different stages of the menstrual cycle, particularly the follicular phase, influenced womens mental chronometry and overall brain function during physical activity.
• On the day of ovulation, female athletes not only reacted faster but also made fewer mistakes, suggesting a significant link between menstruation and enhanced cognitive performance.