Auditory and Visual Reaction Time in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder of female reproductive system causing infertility, irregular menstrual cycle and hormonal imbalance characterised by hyperestrogenemia, hyperprolactinemia, increased Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Apart from the role in female reproductive system, these hormones are shown to have neuromodulatory role, affecting the neuronal activity. Thus, the auditory and visual reaction time may be affected in the women with polycystic ovaries. Aim: To evaluate the auditory and visual reaction time, in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a case-control study where the 80 otherwise healthy women, attending infertility OPD, were recruited for the study and divided into groups viz., PCOS (n=40) and NPCOS (n=40). The subjects from both the groups were evaluated for their anthropometric data, hormone levels {Serum estrogen, Serum prolactin, Serum TSH, Serum AMH} using COBAS-6000 analyser along with the auditory and visual reaction time using RTM-608 (Medicaid). The observations were recorded and analysed using paired t-test. Results: Auditory reaction time had significantly decreased (p=0.012) while visual reaction time was non-significantly reduced in Group PCOS as compared to Group NPCOS. Conclusion: The altered hormonal profile in PCOS i.e., hyperestrogenemia and hyperprolactinemia exerts enhanced neuromodulatory action through neural ER alpha receptors and tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons in hypothalamus, thus resulting in increased neuronal excitability and decreased reaction time in patients with PCOS.