Time sense for short intervals during the follicular and luteal phases
of the menstrual cycle in humans
Physiology & Behavior, 85 (2):
93--98 (June 2005)Abstract
The present study investigated if the time sense (using short intervals)
was influenced by the phase of the menstrual cycle. Fourteen women
(age: 21.8 ± 1.3 years, height: 158.1 ± 4.6 cm, body weight: 50.9 ± 3.2
kg, mean ± S.D.) were examined. Their menstrual phase was checked
by the participants themselves prior to the study, by measuring oral
temperatures after waking but while still in bed over the course
of 1–2 months. Participants entered a climatic chamber (26 °C, 60%
RH, 200 lx) at 09:00 h during either the follicular or luteal phase,
and sat quietly on a sofa for 4 h before performing the time sense
tests. These used intervals ranging from 1 to 60 s, and consisted
of time estimation and time production. In the time estimation test,
the participant was required to estimate the interval between two
signals provided by buzzers; 10 random intervals were given. For
the time production test, the participant was required to produce
the interval displayed on a screen by pushing the space key of a
computer twice; 10 random intervals were given. The order of testing
during the follicular and luteal phases, and of performing the time
estimation and time production tests, was counterbalanced. The results
indicate that the time sense ran significantly faster during the
luteal phases. The findings are discussed in terms of a higher load
error between the actual core temperature and its thermoregulatory
set-point during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.