Recognition of facial expressions during menstrual and late folicular phase of menstrual cycle

Studies of activating sex hormones effects, showed greater efficiency of females during menstrual phases, which are characterized by higher levels of sex hormones. Since the right hemisphere is responsible for the recognition of emotions, and high levels of estrogen have an inhibitory effect on the right hemisphere functioning, better performance could be expected in the task of recognizing different facial expressions in the men¬strual phase, when hormone levels are at the lowest possible level. On the other hand, according to the evolutionary hypothesis, greater suc¬cess in the tasks can be expected during the late folicular phase, when conception is possible. Main goal was to examine the effectiveness in task of emotional recognition of happiness, sadness, fear and pain, dur¬ing menstrual and late folicular phase. In examination participated fe¬male students (N= 30) of Mostar University, age 19-24, with regular men¬strual cycle who didn’t consumate oral contraceptives. In the purpose of this study, was constructed task of recognizing emotional facial expres¬sions (happiness, sadness, fear, pain) which examinees performed two times (2. and 13. day of cycle). As performance parameters were used time of recognition, expressed in milliseconds, and number of errors The obtained results showed no statistically significant differences in the ef¬ficiency in performing tasks, given in the different phases of menstrual cycle. Analyses showed significant differences in time recognition of dif¬ferent facial expressions, which was later confirmed by analyzing the number of errors, too. In conclusion, it can be said that the hypothesis of activational effects of sex hormones has not been confirmed. Also, the assumption of greater success in recognition task, in a time when concep¬tion is possible, according to evolutinary hipothesis, has not confirmed.