Non-randomised trial, 1998
Do women with PMS have slower eye movements than women without PMS?
Yes. Women with PMS had decreased eye movement speed compared to women without PMS, particularly during the luteal phase, though the cause is unclear and hormone levels were similar in both groups.
What they did
21 women with PMS and 21 women without PMS had their eye movements tested at two points in their cycle: the midfollicular phase and the late luteal phase. Blood samples were taken for hormone levels.
What they found
Women with PMS had decreased saccadic eye velocity (slower eye movements) compared to controls. This difference was most noticeable in the luteal phase. Control women increased their eye velocity in the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase, but PMS women did not. Women with PMS rated themselves as more sedated on test days in both cycle phases. Hormone levels did not differ between groups.
What it means for you
The finding may suggest PMS involves differences in brain chemistry or increased sedation, but the cause is unclear since hormone levels were the same. This is a small study of a physiological marker rather than treatment outcomes.
21
women with PMS
21
control women
2
cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Patients with premenstrual syndrome have decreased saccadic eye velocity compared to control subjects
- Authors
- Sundström I, Bäckström T
- Journal
- Biological psychiatry
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- Participants
- 21
- What was tested
- None (measurement only)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00012-2
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
Do sleep, exercise, and diet quality affect period pain, heavy bleeding, and PMS in midlife?
Randomised trial, 2026
Does a warm footbath help PMS symptoms and sleep quality?
Review, 2024
What do brain wave patterns show about PMS and PMDD?
Cohort study, 2024
Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?
Randomised trial, 2010
Does Vitex agnus castus (chasteberry) reduce PMS symptoms in Chinese women?
Cohort study, 2004
Do women with PMS have worse menopausal symptoms?