--- title: Are brain connections different in women with PMS? | Niyora description: Yes. Women with PMS had decreased connectivity in some brain regions involved in emotion and memory, and increased connectivity in other regions. They also re url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/abnormal-resting-state-connectivity-at-functional-mri-in-women-with-premenstrual-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are brain connections different in women with PMS? Case-control study, 2015 # Are brain connections different in women with PMS? Yes. Women with PMS had decreased connectivity in some brain regions involved in emotion and memory, and increased connectivity in other regions. They also reported higher anxiety and depression. Early or limited evidence Women with and without PMS (exact sample size not stated) ## What they did Researchers used resting-state brain MRI scans to measure how different brain regions communicate with each other in women with and without PMS. Participants also completed anxiety, depression, and stress perception questionnaires before and after the scan. ## What they found Compared to women without PMS, women with PMS had decreased connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus (brain regions involved in emotion and memory) and increased connectivity in temporal and motor regions. Women with PMS reported higher anxiety and depression scores and lower stress perception scores. ## What it means for you Brain regions involved in emotion and stress processing may function differently in women with PMS, potentially explaining mood and anxiety symptoms. The sample size and specific effect sizes are not reported in the abstract, which limits how much confidence we can have in these findings. MFG, PHG Brain regions decreased connectivity MTG, STG Brain regions increased connectivity ## About the study Original title Abnormal Resting-State Connectivity at Functional MRI in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Liu Q, Li R, Zhou R et al. Journal PloS one Year 2015 Study design Case-control study What was tested Brain MRI scans and psychological questionnaires Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136029](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0136029) Original abstract Objectives: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a series of cycling and relapsing physical, emotion and behavior syndromes that occur in the luteal phase and resolve soon after the onset of menses. Although PMS is widely recognized, its neural mechanism is still unclear. Design: To address this question, we measured brain activity for women with PMS and women without PMS (control group) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). In addition, the participants should complete the emotion scales (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI; Beck Depression Inventory, BDI, before the scanning) as well as the stress perception scale (Visual analog scale for stress, VAS, before and after the scanning). Results: The results showed that compared with the control group, the PMS group had decreased connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and theparahippocampalgyrus (PHG), as well as increased connectivity in the left medial/superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG) and precentralgyrus within the default mode network (DMN); in addition, the PMS group had higher anxiety and depression scale scores, together with lower stress perception scores. Finally, there were significantly positive correlations between the stress perception scores and functional connectivity in the MFG and cuneus. The BDI scores in the PMS group were correlated negatively with the functional connectivity in the MFG and precuneus and correlated positively with the functional connectivity in the MTG. Conclusion: These findings suggest that compared with normal women, women with PMS displayed abnormal stress sensitivity, which was reflected in the decreased and increased functional connectivity within the DMN, blunted stress perception and higher depression. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2020 Can teaching about yoga techniques improve girls' knowledge about managing PMS? Survey study, 2020 Do negative attitudes about menstruation and suggestibility predict worse PMS pain and distress? 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