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Electrophysiology and Psychophysiology in Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology pp 245–256Cite as

Postmenopausal Physiological Changes

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Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 21))

Abstract

The hallmark of menopause is the marked reduction of estradiol levels due to ovarian failure. This, among other factors result in hot flashes, the most common menopausal symptom. Hot flashes (HFs) can be measured objectively, both inside and outside the laboratory, using sternal skin conductance, an electrical measure of sweating. We have found that HFs are triggered by small elevations in core body temperature (T C ), acting within a greatly reduced thermoneutral zone. This reduction is caused by elevated central sympathetic activation, among other factors. There is a circadian rhythm of HFs peaking at 1825 h. Imaging studies have shown that hot flash activation begins in the brainstem, followed by the insula and by the prefrontal cortex. HFs in the first, but not the second half of the night can produce awakenings and arousals. This is because rapid eye movement (REM) sleep suppresses thermoregulatory effector responses, which include hot flashes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NIH Merit Award, R37-AG05233 and by R01-MH63089.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Robert R. Freedman

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  1. Robert R. Freedman
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Correspondence to Robert R. Freedman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology,, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

    Veena Kumari

  2. Center for Neuropsych Research of Traumatic Stress, Charles University Department of Psychiatry, Prague, Czech Republic

    Petr Bob

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Kansas City, Missouri, USA

    Nash N. Boutros

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Freedman, R.R. (2014). Postmenopausal Physiological Changes. In: Kumari, V., Bob, P., Boutros, N. (eds) Electrophysiology and Psychophysiology in Psychiatry and Psychopharmacology. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 21. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2014_325

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