Assessing women's self-perception and cognitive and emotional abilities during the menstrual cycle
Self-esteem is an important aspect of self-concept and better self-esteem is associated with positive emotions, ability to cope with challenges, better performance at work and correlates strongly with life satisfaction. Cognitive and emotional functioning are an important part of our daily lives. It has been observed that women tend to perceive their cognitive abilities as changing over the course of the menstrual cycle, e.g. impaired memory or ability to concentrate. Emotional fluctuations, such as higher emotionality towards the end of the cycle, have also been observed, but no systematic studies have been published to our knowledge assessing the extent to which these subjective assessments coincide with objective performance on tasks. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess how self-assessment in the context of task performance is related to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.
Protocol aproved by the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee, No 2023/09-1536-999
Currently we are welcome native Lithuanian speakers to joint the experiment.
The relationship between sex hormones and male empathy
Empathy involves a variety of intertwined socio-emotional processes that cannot be precisely separated. Recognition of one's own and others' emotions is an integral part of empathy, while suppression of emotions can undermine emotion recognition, compassion and is associated with depression. The public perception that emotionality is an unmasculine trait has a significant impact on men's more pronounced suppression of emotions, thereby increasing the likelihood of depression and suicidal ideation. The relationship between sex hormones and male empathy has not been studied much, but an assessment of this relationship could help to better understand the influence of biological factors on this psychological phenomenon. Therefore, this study focuses on men's socioemotional processes and their relationship with sex hormones.
Protocol aproved by the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee, No 2023/09-1536-999.
The call for the study participants will be announced shortly.
Investigating the relationship between menopausal symptoms, stress and gut microbiota
In this study, we look at the link between menopausal symptoms, stress and gut microbiota. Together with PhD student Ieva Brimiene, a gynaecologist, we will conduct the study in several stages. We started with a survey inviting women aged between 45 and 55 years. The aim of the survey was to assess the symptoms of current or impending menopause, general well-being and stress.
Thank you to all who took part.
Publications:
Brimienė I., Šiaudinytė M., Ilkevič E., Mazgelytė E., Karčiauskaitė D., Songailienė J., Kaminskas A., Petrėnas T., Utkus A., Burokas A., Grikšienė R. (2024) Associations of reproductive hormones and stress-related factors with menopausal symptoms. Menopause| DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000002463
Brimienė, I., Šiaudinytė, M., Burokas, A., & Grikšienė, R. (2023). Exploration of the association between menopausal symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and perceived stress: Survey-based analysis. Menopause (New York, N.Y.). https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000002259
Effects of sex and sex hormones on cognitive and socio-emotional function
The study assessed the association of sex and sex hormones with socio-emotional and cognitive functions. To achieve the aim of the study, two studies were conducted using two different psychophysiological methods: eye movement recording and electroencephalography.
Permission for the study was granted by the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee, 28 April 2020, No.2020/4˗1223˗708.
Publications:
R. Gaižauskaitė, I. Zelionkaitė, R. Grikšienė (2025) Study of spatial abilities: The role of sex, female hormonal status and emotional context in visualizing 2D cross sections of 3D objects. Behavioural Brain Research https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115520
R. Gaižauskaitė, L. Gladutytė, I. Zelionkaitė, R. Grikšienė (2025) Exploring the role of sex, sex steroids, menstrual cycle, and hormonal contraception use in visual working memory: Insights from behavioral and EEG analyses. International Journal of Psychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2025.112520
R. Gaižauskaitė, L. Gladutytė, I. Zelionkaitė, E. Čėsnaite, N. A. Busch, R. Grikšienė (2024). The search for the relationship between female hormonal status, alpha oscillations, and aperiodic features of resting state EEG. International Journal of Psychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112312.
I. Zelionkaitė, R. Gaižauskaitė, H. Uusberg, A. Uusberg, A. Ambrasė, B. Derntl, R.Grikšienė (2024) // The use of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device is related to preconscious emotion processing: an ERP study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.10695