Abstract
Research into oral contraceptives on cognition and affect is scarce and often ignores the different generations of the pill. Androgenic and antiandrogenic progestins, which vary over the generations of oral contraceptives, may produce masculinizing and feminizing effects on the brain, respectively. Masculinizing effects are associated with better spatial ability, which suggests that androgenicity plays a role in spatial performance. Clinical and animal studies have also demonstrated an effect of oral contraceptives on anxiety which may be dependent on the generation of pill used. In the current study, adolescent female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either an androgenic oral contraceptive, an antiandrogenic oral contraceptive, or a vehicle containing no drug. All female rodents treated with oral contraceptives performed significantly better in tests of the Morris Water Maze and Elevated Plus Maze. No significant differences were found between the two oral contraceptive pill groups in performance on either task. Results may have been impacted by the effects of estrogen, which has demonstrated pro-spatial ability and anxiolytic effects. Future studies should examine progestins in isolation to eliminate estrogen as a potential confound. The current study’s findings imply that oral contraceptives can alter cognition and affect, which should be relayed to individuals who use these medications.
Advisor
Stavnezer, Amy Jo
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Stanley, Morgan, "Oral Contraceptives Improve Spatial Learning And Anxiety In A Rodent Model Despite Opposing Androgenicity" (2023). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 10858.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/10858
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Keywords
Sex Differences, Oral Contraceptives, Spatial Learning, Anxiety
Publication Date
2023
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2023 Morgan Stanley