Effect of different phases of menstrual cycle on brainstem auditory evoked response

Abstract

Introduction:The change in the hormonal levels during the three phases of menstrual cycle, namely, menstrual phase (hormonal withdrawal), proliferative phase (estrogen peak), and secretory phase (progesterone peak), influences the conduction velocities in the central auditory pathways. Variable findings of brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) have been reported during different phases of menstrual cycle by different researchers.Aim:To study the effect of different phases of menstrual cycle on BAER.Methodology:A prospective observational study on 80 audiometrically normal, healthy, eumenorrheic female students in age group of 18–24 years was done at a medical college of northern India. BAER was recorded across the three phases of the menstrual cycle, i.e., menstrual phase (day 1–3), proliferative phase (day 10–12), and secretory phase (day 20–22). Recordings of peak latencies, interpeak latencies, and amplitude of waves of BAER were taken and statistically analyzed.Results:In this study, significant decrease in the latencies of wave III, wave V, and interpeak latency I-III and a trend of decrease in latencies of wave I and interpeak latency I-V (which was statistically insignificant) were observed in proliferative (estrogen peak) phase as compared to menstrual and secretory phase. However, there was no statistically significant difference found in the amplitude of waves of BAER during all the three phases of menstrual cycle.Conclusion:The hormonal changes during different phases of menstrual cycle do seem to influence BAER.

Central conduction time in auditory brainstem response and ear advantage in dichotic listening across menstrual cycle

“…To determine an appropriate sample size for the current study, reference was made to Battaet al [ 10 ] who reported significant difference in wave latency at peak V across the menstrual cycle, and to Hjelmervik et al [ 2 ] who reported significant difference in ear advantage under the forced-left attention. Apower analysis software (G*Power v3.1.9.2, Heinrich Heine University, Germany) was used to estimate the sample size for the power to reach 0.8.…”

“…Apower analysis software (G*Power v3.1.9.2, Heinrich Heine University, Germany) was used to estimate the sample size for the power to reach 0.8. Based on these two studies [ 2 , 10 ], a sample size larger than 15 was required to examine the effects of the menstrual cycle on measurements in ABR and dichotic listening simultaneously.…”

“…Although studying the effects of fluctuating sex hormones on ABR seems straightforward, the findings as reported in women with normal menstruation cycle are inconsistent and conflicting. The results can range from no significant difference across the menstrual cycle [ 6 ] to a significant increase in the wave latency at the follicular phase but not the interpeak conduction time [ 7 ]; and from a significant increase in the wave latency and the interpeak conduction time at the follicular phase [ 4 – 5 , 8 – 10 ] to an opposite outcome [ 11 ]. Therefore, the impacts of fluctuating sex hormones on auditory function as measured with ABR are still uncertain.…”

The effect of the menstrual cycle on dichotic listening

“…Previous studies suggest that variations in ovarian hormones during the menstrual cycle may produce positive effects on a number of cognitive functions including tasks involving working memory, cognitive inhibition, and verbal memory [9]. The ovarian hormone variations also have been shown to affect the function of the auditory mechanism [16, 17, 18]. Together, estrogen and progesterone may directly affect steroid receptors in the cochlea and indirectly influence auditory function by modulating cochlear blood supply [17].…”

“…Together, estrogen and progesterone may directly affect steroid receptors in the cochlea and indirectly influence auditory function by modulating cochlear blood supply [17]. For example, Batta et al [18] reported significantly shorter latencies of auditory brainstem evoked responses when their participants were tested during the days of their menstrual cycles after ovulation. In contrast, Hu and Lau [14] reported longer latency times when their participants were tested during this same portion of the menstrual cycle.…”