Figure 1.

Highlighting the hormonal impact on the female brain: changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Rodents and women share a similar menstrual cycle pattern. Alterations in hormone levels are known to play an important role in neurobiology and mental health. The increased levels of oestrogen in the rodent proestrus phase have been reported to guide an increase in both hippocampal spine density [30] and plasticity [31]. In women, a significant increase in grey matter volume was found around ovulation [32]. The decrease of circulating hormones at the end of the menstrual cycle may induce depression-like symptoms [33].