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Case-control study, 2018

Does PMS affect thinking and memory?

Women with PMS showed slower brain responses to sounds compared to women without PMS, suggesting possible cognitive effects, though memory itself was not directly tested.

Moderate study design 60 women total: 30 with PMS and 30 without

What they did

Measured P300 brain wave response in 60 women (30 with PMS, 30 without) while they listened to sounds and identified the odd one in a discrimination task.

What they found

Women with PMS had longer P300 wave latencies (slower brain responses) across all brain regions tested compared to women without PMS. There was no significant difference in P300 amplitude between groups.

What it means for you

Slower brain responses to stimuli may occur in PMS, which could relate to concentration complaints. The study is small and measured only one brain response, so we don't know if this affects real-world thinking.

60

women studied

30

with PMS

30

without PMS

About the study

Original title
Investigation of auditory potentials and cognitive impairment in premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Ors CH, Karaman HIO
Journal
Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
Year
2018
Study design
Case-control study
Participants
60
What was tested
Auditory discrimination task (listening to and identifying tones)

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