Intrapersonal motor but not extrapersonal targeting skill is enhanced during the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle

Verbal articulatory speed and small‐amplitude manual skills within personal space are usually enhanced during the high‐estrogen phases (midluteal and preovulatory) of the menstrual cycle, whereas spatial ability is better in the low‐estrogen phase (menstrual). Thirty‐three women performed an intrapersonal motor task (the Manual Sequence Box) in both the midluteal and menstrual phases, as well as a spatio‐motor task (Targeting) directed at extrapersonal space. The Targeting task reliably yields a large male advantage. Saliva samples were assayed for estrogen and progesterone to confirm the appropriate menstrual phase for each test session. Performance on the Manual Sequence Box was faster during the high‐estrogen midluteal phase relative to the menstrual phase, which confirms previous reports. In contrast, there was no effect of phase on overall targeting accuracy. Although for targeting accuracy, the right hand was more accurate than the left throughout, it was even more accurate than the left in the midluteal phase, consistent with earlier suggestions that high estrogen concentration may facilitate left‐hemisphere function relative to the right hemisphere.