---
title: Does the central nervous system work differently in women with PMS?
description: Yes. Women with PMS showed clear differences in brain wave patterns compared to healthy women, with abnormal patterns in the brain stem (46%), hypothalamus (3
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/characteristics-of-the-functional-state-of-the-central-nervous-system-in-women-1991/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does the central nervous system work differently in women with PMS?

Lab study, 1991

# Does the central nervous system work differently in women with PMS?

Yes. Women with PMS showed clear differences in brain wave patterns compared to healthy women, with abnormal patterns in the brain stem (46%), hypothalamus (37%), or both (17%).

 Early or limited evidence

30 healthy women and 15 women with PMS

## What they did

Measured brain waves in 30 healthy women and 15 with PMS using an electroencephalogram at different times in their menstrual cycle.

## What they found

Women with PMS had abnormal brain wave patterns different from healthy women. Among those with PMS, 46% showed changes in the brain stem, 37% showed changes in the hypothalamus, and 17% showed changes in both areas. Their brains' adaptive mechanisms were already activating even early in the cycle, indicating these mechanisms were not working properly.

## What it means for you

The brain may work differently in people with PMS, particularly in regions that control basic functions and hormones. However, the study was very small (15 women with PMS) and only measured brain waves, not actual symptoms. It doesn't explain how these brain differences relate to what women actually feel.

30

healthy women studied

15

women with PMS studied

46%

with brain stem changes

## About the study

Original title [Characteristics of the functional state of the central nervous system in women during the menstrual cycle and in premenstrual syndrome] Authors Tkachenko NM, Smetnik VP, Il'ina EM Journal Akusherstvo i ginekologiia Year 1991 Study design Lab study Participants 30 Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1789327/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1789327/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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

Randomised trial, 2026

Does Kundalini Reiki help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?

Systematic review, 2026

Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms?

Systematic review, 2026

Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with PMS or PMDD report lower quality of life than women without these conditions?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗