Background & aim: One of the most critical stages of women’s lives is menopause. It is caused by permanent cessation of ovarian function and decreased of estrogen level. Menopause has numerous side effects (Physical and psychological). Recent neurophysiological data suggest that the function of central nervous system may be susceptible to modulation by estrogen. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the five important parts (prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, limbic system, basal ganglia and temporal cortex) of the brain and mood changes (anxiety and depression) with the level of estrogen in postmenopausal and premenopausal women in Isfahan.

Methods: In the present descriptive study 200 women (100 postmenopausal women 45 to 65 years old and 100 women, premenopausal 20 to 40 years old) were selected by sequentially available from health centers of Motahari, Sajjad and Amin Askariyeh Hospital. The research instrument was a brain systems questionnaire of 101 questions (Brain systems) with 89/0 reliability to evaluate five important system functions in the brain (prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, limbic system, basal ganglia and temporal lobe) and Beck Depression Inventory with reliability of 93 / 0 and anxiety with reliability 92/0 to assess depression and anxiety. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (MANOVA MANOVA) analysis.

Results: significant differences were found in five brain system functions (prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, limbic system, basal ganglia and temporal cortex) and levels of estrogen and anxiety of two the groups of postmenopausal and premenopausal women (P<0.001) but no significant difference was observed regarding depression of these groups (P>0/001). 

Conclusion: It seems that in addition to the role of estrogen in the female reproductive system, it also has an impact on the nervous system and its various parts. Following the reduction of estrogen in postmenopausal women, the modulation of brain functions is affected. So the two-way interaction and convergence among secretion of hormones with brain function and mood changes such as anxiety and depression could be explained.