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.
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
Topics
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