--- title: Do women with PMS show different brain stress responses at different cycle phases? description: Brain responses to stress were similar in women with and without PMS regardless of cycle phase, but more severe PMS symptoms were associated with differences url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-phase-and-premenstrual-symptoms-in-relation-with-the-stress-2026/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS show different brain stress responses at different cycle phases? Case-control study, 2026 # Do women with PMS show different brain stress responses at different cycle phases? Brain responses to stress were similar in women with and without PMS regardless of cycle phase, but more severe PMS symptoms were associated with differences in two specific brain regions. Moderate study design 26 women with PMS and 24 women without PMS ## What they did 26 women with PMS and 24 women without PMS underwent brain imaging (fMRI) while doing a stress task (Montreal Imaging Stress Task) during the mid-follicular phase (days 5 to 11) and late-luteal phase (days -7 to -1). Researchers measured subjective stress ratings and salivary cortisol before and after the task. ## What they found Stress ratings increased as expected during the task with no differences between groups or cycle phases. Cortisol was significantly higher during the mid-follicular phase but did not change with the stress task. Brain activation patterns showed no significant differences between PMS and control groups or between cycle phases. However, greater symptom severity predicted different brain activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus. ## What it means for you Core stress responses appear stable across the cycle in both groups, suggesting PMS may not simply involve worsened stress reactivity. However, individual symptom severity may still relate to brain function differences. The study is small and from a preprint server, not yet peer-reviewed. 26 women with PMS 24 women without PMS 2 fMRI sessions per woman ## About the study Original title Menstrual cycle phase and premenstrual symptoms in relation with the stress response: an fMRI study Authors Bücklein-Ehlers E, Kimmig AS, Dresler T et al. Journal bioRxiv Year 2026 Study design Case-control study Participants 26 What was tested Montreal Imaging Stress Task Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.21.753084](https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.21.753084) Original abstract Objective: Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) experience affective lability, irritability, depressed mood, and anxiety during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Stress reactivity may contribute to the development of these symptoms, yet neural correlates remain unexplored. We examined neural, behavioral and endocrine stress responses across menstrual cycle phases in women with and without PMS. Methods: 26 women with PMS and 24 women without PMS participated in two fMRI sessions, during the mid-follicular (days 5 to 11) and late-luteal phases (days −7 to −1). Participants completed the Montreal Imaging Stress Task (MIST). Subjective stress ratings and salivary cortisol were collected at six time points before and after stress induction. Stress-related brain activation was assessed using whole-brain and region-of-interest analyses. Results: Subjective stress ratings increased as expected from before to after the MIST, with no group or phase differences. Salivary cortisol was significantly higher during the mid-follicular phase, with no group effect or significant pre-post MIST difference. While the stress task elicited activation patterns in stress-related regions, whole-brain analysis revealed no significant effects of group (PMS vs. no PMS) or menstrual cycle phase (follicular vs. luteal) on the neural stress response. Considering premenstrual symptom severity as a predictor revealed significant group-by-symptom severity interactions in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the right superior temporal gyrus. Conclusion: Using a within-subject repeated-measures design, we found neural responses to psychosocial stress to be stable across menstrual cycle phases. Individual differences in symptom severity may nevertheless be associated with differences in stress-related brain activation. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/) 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 Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Review, 2025 How do stress hormone levels change during the menstrual cycle and how does this affect health? 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