Brain fingerprint changes across the menstrual cycle correlate with emotional state

Background: Menstrual cycle (MC) is the cyclical phenomenon with the greatest impact on women's mood and behavior. To date, little is known about the potential mechanism and neuroanatomical correlates of behavioral and emotional fluctuations across the MC. Brain connectome fingerprinting, a recently introduced technique in the field of brain network analysis, represents a valid approach in assessing the subject-specific connectivity and in predicting clinical impairment in several neurological diseases. Nevertheless, its performance, and clinical utility, in healthy individuals has not yet been investigated. Methods: We conducted the Clinical Connectome Fingerprint (CCF) analysis on source-reconstructed magnetoencephalography signals in a cohort of 24 women across the MC. Results: All the parameters of identifiability did not differ according to the MC phases. The periovulatory and mid-luteal phases showed a less stable, more variable over time, brain connectome compared to the early follicular phase. This difference in brain connectome stability (especially in the posterior brain regions) was able to significantly predict self-esteem, wellbeing, and mood. Conclusion: These results confirm the high reliability of the CCF and its independence from the MC phases and, at the same time, provide neuroanatomical correlates of the emotional and mood aspects that change across the MC. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement Ministero Sviluppo Economico; Contratto di sviluppo industriale Farmaceutica e Diagnostica (CDS 000606); European Union NextGenerationEU, (Investimento 3.1.M4. C2) of PNRR ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee (University of Naples Federico II; protocol n. 223/20). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, GS, upon reasonable request