--- title: Do brain wave patterns differ across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS? description: Yes, women with high PMS show a specific brain wave pattern (higher delta/beta power ratio) during the late luteal phase compared to the follicular phase. Wom url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-is-associated-with-an-altered-spontaneous-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do brain wave patterns differ across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS? Survey study, 2022 # Do brain wave patterns differ across the menstrual cycle in women with PMS? Yes, women with high PMS show a specific brain wave pattern (higher delta/beta power ratio) during the late luteal phase compared to the follicular phase. Women with low PMS do not show this pattern. Early or limited evidence 32 women with high premenstrual symptoms and 33 women with low premenstrual symptoms ## What they did Cross-sectional study measuring brain waves (EEG) in 32 women with high PMS symptoms and 33 women with low PMS symptoms during their late luteal and follicular phases. Researchers also measured how women typically regulate their emotions. ## What they found Women with high PMS had higher delta/beta power ratios in the frontal and central brain regions during late luteal phase than follicular phase. Women with low PMS showed no difference between phases. In women with high PMS during late luteal phase, higher delta/beta ratios were linked to more self-blame and rumination (unhelpful thinking patterns). ## What it means for you Women with PMS may have different brain activity patterns across their cycle linked to unhelpful thinking habits like blaming themselves and dwelling on negative thoughts. This is one small study measuring one brain marker, so the findings need confirmation in larger studies. 32 Women with high PMS 33 Women with low PMS frontal/central Brain regions studied ## About the study Original title Premenstrual syndrome is associated with an altered spontaneous electroencephalographic delta/beta power ratio across the menstrual cycle Authors Hou L, Chen L, Zhou R Journal International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology Year 2022 Study design Survey study Participants 33 What was tested None; researchers measured existing brain activity patterns Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.08.007](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.08.007) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Mood swings and emotion regulation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-emotional-regulation/) 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 Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Case-control study, 2026 Do women with PMS handle emotions differently at different times of the cycle? Systematic review, 2025 Do people with PMDD and severe PMS have difficulties with emotion regulation? Study, 2026 What coping strategies help women manage PMS symptoms? Cohort study, 2026 How do beliefs about control and ways of handling emotions affect distress before your period? Survey study, 2025 Do women with PMS have difficulty managing emotions across their whole cycle or only before their period? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗