Hormonal milieu influences whole-brain structural dynamics across the menstrual cycle using dense sampling in multiple individuals

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Carina Heller - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena, University of Minnesota System, University of California at Santa Barbara, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Jena, Halle, Mageburg, C-I-R-C Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (Author)
  • Daniel Güllmar - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Lejla Colic - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Jena, Halle, Mageburg, C-I-R-C Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (Author)
  • Laura Pritschet - , University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Martin Gell - , University of Minnesota System, Jülich Research Centre (Author)
  • Nooshin Javaheripour - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Feliberto de la Cruz - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Philine Rojczyk - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Harvard University (Author)
  • Carina J. Koeppel - , German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Jena, Halle, Mageburg, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Bart Larsen - , University of Minnesota System (Author)
  • Habib Ganjgahi - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Frederik J. Lange - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Ann Christine Buck - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Tim L. Jesgarzewsky - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Robert Dahnke - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Michael Kiehntopf - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Emily G. Jacobs - , University of California at Santa Barbara (Author)
  • Zora Kikinis - , Harvard University (Author)
  • Martin Walter - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Jena, Halle, Mageburg, C-I-R-C Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (Author)
  • Ilona Croy - , Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Jena, Halle, Mageburg, C-I-R-C Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health, Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Christian Gaser - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) Partner Site Jena, Halle, Mageburg, C-I-R-C Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (Author)

Abstract

Gonadal hormone receptors are widely distributed across the brain, yet their influence on brain structure remains understudied. Here, using precision imaging, we examined four females, including one with endometriosis and one using oral contraceptives (OC), across a monthly period. Whole-brain analyses revealed spatiotemporal patterns of brain volume changes, with substantial variations across the monthly period. In typical cycles, spatiotemporal patterns were associated with serum progesterone levels, while in cycles with endometriosis and during OC intake, patterns were associated with serum estradiol levels. The volume changes were widely distributed rather than region-specific, suggesting a widespread but coordinated influence of hormonal fluctuations. These findings underscore the importance of considering diverse hormonal milieus beyond typical menstrual cycles in understanding structural brain dynamics and suggest that hormonal rhythms may drive widespread structural brain changes.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2588-2600
Number of pages13
JournalNature neuroscience
Volume28
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41006668

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas