--- title: Do women with PMDD have different brain wave patterns linked to alcoholism risk? description: Yes. Women with PMDD showed different patterns in brain waves and electrical responses compared to healthy women. Those with a family history of alcoholism sh url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/electrophysiological-findings-during-the-menstrual-cycle-in-women-with-and-1996/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have different brain wave patterns linked to alcoholism risk? Non-randomised trial, 1996 # Do women with PMDD have different brain wave patterns linked to alcoholism risk? Yes. Women with PMDD showed different patterns in brain waves and electrical responses compared to healthy women. Those with a family history of alcoholism showed even more pronounced differences, suggesting PMDD and alcoholism risk may share biological mechanisms. Early or limited evidence Women with PMDD and healthy controls (sample size not specified) ## What they did A study measuring brain activity using EEG (brain wave recordings), ERG (eye response recordings), and neuropsychological testing in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (an earlier name for PMDD) and healthy controls across their menstrual cycles. ## What they found In both PMDD and control women, the frequency and stability of EEG alpha activity differed across the menstrual cycle. The P3 component of auditory event-related potentials (a brain response to sounds) was longer in PMDD women overall, not varying by cycle phase. Among PMDD women with alcoholic relatives compared to those without and controls, there was more high-frequency alpha activity (9-12 Hz), lower P3 amplitudes, and longer P3 latencies. ## What it means for you PMDD may involve persistent differences in brain function visible in brain wave recordings. The similarities with alcoholism risk factors suggest these conditions may share underlying biological mechanisms. A major limitation is that the abstract does not specify the sample size, making it impossible to assess the statistical power of this study. 9-12 Hz high-frequency alpha in alcoholism-risk group ## About the study Original title Electrophysiological findings during the menstrual cycle in women with and without late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: relationship to risk for alcoholism? Authors Ehlers CL, Phillips E, Parry BL Journal Biological psychiatry Year 1996 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested EEG and ERG recordings and neuropsychological testing across menstrual cycle phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(95)00183-2](https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(95)00183-2) ## 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/)[Alcohol, smoking and substance use](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-substance-use/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/) 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, 2025 What lifestyle and body composition factors are associated with PMS in young women? Case-control study, 2022 Do women with PMS in addiction treatment experience more alcohol cravings? Survey study, 1989 Do women's memories of premenstrual depression match their daily mood ratings? Systematic review, 2026 What is it like for women to live with PMS or PMDD? Cohort study, 2024 Do women with severe premenstrual disorders have higher risk of relationship breakup? Randomised trial, 2023 Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗