--- title: Are there differences in brain structure in women with PMDD? | Niyora description: Yes, women with PMDD show differences in brain structure in emotion-related regions. Smaller brain volume was found in the amygdala, and symptom severity corr url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/grey-matter-correlates-of-affective-and-somatic-symptoms-of-premenstrual-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Are there differences in brain structure in women with PMDD? Survey study, 2022 # Are there differences in brain structure in women with PMDD? Yes, women with PMDD show differences in brain structure in emotion-related regions. Smaller brain volume was found in the amygdala, and symptom severity correlated with changes in brain surface thickness and shape. Early or limited evidence 51 women with PMDD ## What they did Cross-sectional study using brain imaging (MRI) in 51 women with PMDD during the late luteal phase (week before period). Computer analysis measured the volume of brain tissue, thickness of the brain surface, folding patterns, and structural complexity in different brain regions. ## What they found Women with PMDD had smaller grey matter volume (brain tissue) in the amygdala on both sides of the brain, a region involved in emotions. The severity of both mood and physical PMDD symptoms was related to differences in cortical thickness, brain surface folding, sulcal depth, and structural complexity, especially in the prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, and parahippocampal gyrus. ## What it means for you Brain structure differences in women with PMDD may help explain their symptoms, especially in regions that process emotions and respond to hormones. However, this study shows associations, not cause and effect, and does not tell us whether structural differences cause PMDD or result from having PMDD. The sample was relatively small and measured only once. 51 women with PMDD studied 4 brain regions with structural differences ## About the study Original title Grey matter correlates of affective and somatic symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Dubol M, Wikström J, Lanzenberger R et al. Journal Scientific reports Year 2022 Study design Survey study What was tested None; cross-sectional brain imaging study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07109-3](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07109-3) Original abstract Ovarian hormones fluctuations across the menstrual cycle are experienced by about 58% of women in their fertile age. Maladaptive brain sensitivity to these changes likely leads to the severe psychological, cognitive, and physical symptoms repeatedly experienced by women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. However, the neuroanatomical correlates of these symptoms are unknown. The relationship between grey matter structure and PMDD symptom severity was delineated using structural magnetic resonance imaging during the late luteal phase of fifty-one women diagnosed with PMDD, combined with Voxel- and Surface-Based Morphometry, as well as subcortical volumetric analyses. A negative correlation was found between depression-related symptoms and grey matter volume of the bilateral amygdala. Moreover, the severity of affective and somatic PMDD symptoms correlated with cortical thickness, gyrification, sulcal depth, and complexity metrics, particularly in the prefrontal, cingulate, and parahippocampal gyri. The present findings provide the first evidence of grey matter morphological characteristics associated with PMDD symptomatology in brain regions expressing ovarian hormone receptors and of relevance to cognitive-affective functions, thus potentially having important implications for understanding how structural brain characteristics relate to PMDD symptomatology. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/) 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 Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Systematic review, 2024 Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD? Cohort study, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Survey study, 2020 What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life? Randomised trial, 2019 Does online cognitive behavioral therapy help women with PMDD? Review, 2017 What causes PMDD and what are the best treatments? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗