AN ERP STUDY OF VISUAL WORKING MEMORY: NO INFLUENCE OF SEX, SEX HORMONES AND HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES

Despite accumulating evidence of the influence of sex hormones on cognitive function, research on the effect of sex hormones on visual working memory (VWM) is controversial and limited. This study aimed to investigate the influence of sex and female hormonal status (phase of menstrual cycle, use of hormonal contraceptives) on VWM performance and electrophysiological measures. Men (n=30), naturally cycling women in the follicular phase (n=30) and luteal phase (n=36), and hormonal contraceptives users (n=34) performed a bilateral VWM change detection task while their ERPs were recorded. The effects of group and experimental conditions on behavioral (response time, performance and capacity) and electrophysiological (contralateral delay activity (CDA)) measures were assessed. Behavioral measures of VWM and average CDA amplitude did not differ significantly between groups and did not correlate with sex hormone (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) levels. The results suggest that VWM is not influenced by sex and sex hormones, women's menstrual cycle phase, or use of hormonal contraceptives.