---
title: Do women with PMDD have worse cognitive function during their menstrual cycle?
description: Tests found no significant differences in cognitive function between women with PMDD and controls, despite the PMDD group reporting cognitive problems. The re
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cognitive-flexibility-reaction-time-and-attention-in-women-with-premenstrual-2002/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do women with PMDD have worse cognitive function during their menstrual cycle?

Case-control study, 2002

# Do women with PMDD have worse cognitive function during their menstrual cycle?

Tests found no significant differences in cognitive function between women with PMDD and controls, despite the PMDD group reporting cognitive problems. The researchers suggest these complaints may come from how women perceive things rather than actual cognitive deficits.

 Early or limited evidence

37 women with PMDD and 32 control women

## What they did

They tested 37 women with PMDD and 32 control women using cognitive tests during two cycle phases: the follicular phase and the late-luteal phase.

## What they found

Tests for attention, reaction time, and cognitive flexibility showed no significant differences between the PMDD and control groups at either phase.

## What it means for you

Women with PMDD who report cognitive problems during their cycle may be perceiving and interpreting their thinking differently rather than having actual measurable cognitive impairment. The study was small and observational, so results may not apply to all women with PMDD.

37

women with PMDD

32

control women

2

cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title Cognitive flexibility, reaction time, and attention in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Morgan M, Rapkin A Journal The journal of gender-specific medicine : JGSM : the official journal of the Partnership for Women's Health at Columbia Year 2002 Study design Case-control study Participants 37 What was tested None; observational study Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12078060/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12078060/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)[Legal and forensic](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-legal-crime/)

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

Cohort study, 2023

Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis?

Study, 2025

Do women with PMDD who experienced childhood trauma have more trouble recognizing emotions?

Case-control study, 2007

Do women with PMDD see emotions in faces differently during the luteal phase?

Survey study, 2026

How aware are female students of PMDD and how does it affect their schoolwork?

Survey study, 2026

Should PMDD be recognized in Indian law as affecting criminal responsibility?

Survey study, 2023

How common are PMS and PMDD among college girls, and what are their symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗