Study, 2015
Do women with PMS or PMDD show different brain electrical patterns during the luteal phase?
Yes. Most women with PMS and PMDD showed a specific pattern of brain electrical activity on the left side of the front of the brain during the luteal phase, while this pattern was much less common in women without PMS.
What they did
This was an observational study with 150 women, of which 145 had PMS and 45 had no PMS (controls). All women answered a structured interview about PMDD symptoms. Brain electrical activity was recorded during both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
What they found
During the luteal phase, 70% of the women with PMS and 75% of the women with PMDD showed left-sided brain electrical activity at rest.
What it means for you
Women with PMS or PMDD may have a measurable difference in brain electrical patterns during the luteal phase, which could eventually help with diagnosis. The main limits are that this is one study in one location, and we do not yet know what this pattern means for symptom severity.
150
women studied
70%
women with PMS showing left-sided brain pattern
75%
women with PMDD showing left-sided brain pattern
About the study
- Original title
- Frontal electroencephalogram α-asymmetry during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- AmalElsayed Mahfouz, Mohamed Khalil Mohamed, MohamedNabih El-Gharib
- Journal
- Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 150
- What was tested
- None—this was observational
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4103/2278-960x.153515
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms?
Systematic review, 2026
How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together?
Systematic review, 2026
Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS 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?
Systematic review, 2026
How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect?