---
title: Does the brain respond differently to progesterone in women with PMS?
description: Yes. Women with PMS showed abnormal brain responses during the luteal phase, opposite to what happens in women without PMS. This is the first evidence for abn
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/abnormal-luteal-phase-excitability-of-the-motor-cortex-in-women-with-2003/
---

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- Does the brain respond differently to progesterone in women with PMS?

Case-control study, 2003

# Does the brain respond differently to progesterone in women with PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS showed abnormal brain responses during the luteal phase, opposite to what happens in women without PMS. This is the first evidence for abnormal brain response to progesterone in PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

9 women with PMS and 14 control women

## What they did

Case-control study of 9 women with PMS and 14 control women. Researchers used magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex during the follicular and luteal phases to measure how the brain's response changed across the menstrual cycle.

## What they found

In the follicular phase, both groups responded the same. In the luteal phase, control women showed more brain inhibition (expected from progesterone). Women with PMS showed relative brain facilitation instead, the opposite pattern.

## What it means for you

This suggests PMS involves an abnormal brain response to progesterone rather than abnormal hormone levels. It could help explain how PMS develops. However, the study is very small with only 9 women with PMS, so results need confirmation in larger studies.

9

women with PMS

14

control women

7

stimulus intervals tested

## About the study

Original title Abnormal luteal phase excitability of the motor cortex in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors Smith MJ, Adams LF, Schmidt PJ et al. Journal Biological psychiatry Year 2003 Study design Case-control study Participants 14 What was tested Transcranial magnetic stimulation of motor cortex Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01924-8](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01924-8)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)

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