---
title: Do women with PMDD have different brain activity related to depression during their menstrual cycle?
description: Yes, women with PMDD show different brain activity related to depression during the luteal phase compared to women without PMDD. The study is small and needs
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/depressive-mood-and-frontal-alpha-asymmetry-during-the-luteal-phase-in-2013/
---

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- Do women with PMDD have different brain activity related to depression during their menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2013

# Do women with PMDD have different brain activity related to depression during their menstrual cycle?

Yes, women with PMDD show different brain activity related to depression during the luteal phase compared to women without PMDD. The study is small and needs confirmation in larger groups.

 Early or limited evidence

12 college women with PMDD and 12 without PMDD

## What they did

Researchers measured brain electrical activity using EEG in 12 women with PMDD and 12 women without PMDD. They measured women during both the luteal phase (before menstruation) and follicular phase (after menstruation). During testing, women experienced different conditions: resting, viewing depressing images, recalling sad memories, recovery, and relaxation.

## What they found

Women with PMDD had a different pattern of brain activity (higher frontal alpha asymmetry, a pattern linked to negative mood) compared to women without PMDD. This difference only appeared during the luteal phase and only during the depressing image and relaxation conditions. In both groups, more negative mood and depressive symptoms were linked to this brain activity pattern during the luteal phase.

## What it means for you

This shows that PMDD involves measurable differences in how the brain responds to emotional challenges during the luteal phase. However, the study is very small and cannot tell us what causes these differences, whether they lead to symptoms, or how to treat them.

12

women with PMDD

12

women without PMDD

2

menstrual cycle phases measured (luteal and follicular)

## About the study

Original title Depressive mood and frontal alpha asymmetry during the luteal phase in premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Lin IM, Tsai YC, Peper E et al. Journal The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research Year 2013 Study design Survey study Participants 12 What was tested None - measured existing brain activity at two cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/jog.12020](https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.12020)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)

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## Related studies

Cohort study, 2026

What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?

Study, 2026

How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains?

Systematic review, 2026

Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?

Case-control study, 2026

Do women with PMS handle emotions differently at different times of the cycle?

Systematic review, 2025

Do people with PMDD and severe PMS have difficulties with emotion regulation?

Cohort study, 2025

Do women with a history of PMS or PMDD have more depression during pregnancy and after birth?

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