--- title: What brain regions are involved in PMS and PMDD? | Niyora description: The temporal lobe, particularly the amygdala and hippocampus, appears central to both PMS and PMDD. These brain areas show structural and functional changes t url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-prominent-role-of-the-temporal-lobe-in-premenstrual-syndrome-and-2022/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What brain regions are involved in PMS and PMDD? Review, 2022 # What brain regions are involved in PMS and PMDD? The temporal lobe, particularly the amygdala and hippocampus, appears central to both PMS and PMDD. These brain areas show structural and functional changes that may explain symptom patterns. Moderate study design Review article covering multiple studies ## What they did Literature review summarizing neuroimaging studies from the past decade about how the temporal lobe relates to PMS and PMDD. ## What they found Multiple studies showed that the amygdala and hippocampus in the temporal lobe have structural and functional variations in people with PMS and PMDD. Studies examined brain shape, function, and metabolism. ## What it means for you The temporal lobe likely plays an important role in how hormonal changes affect mood and behavior in PMS and PMDD. However, the exact connections between hormone levels and brain changes need further study. ## About the study Original title The Prominent Role of the Temporal Lobe in Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: Evidence From Multimodal Neuroimaging Authors Long J, Wang Y, Liu L et al. Journal Frontiers in psychiatry Year 2022 Study design Review What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.954211](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.954211) Original abstract Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of psychological, physical, and behavioral symptoms that recur with the menstrual cycle, usually occurring a few days before menstruation and ceasing with the onset of menstruation. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS that has been included in a subcategory of depression in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) according to the latest diagnostic criteria. Patients usually present with mild to moderate emotional and physical symptoms that affect their routine work, social activities, and family lives. The pathogenesis of PMDD remains unclear, and some researchers believe that it is related to fluctuations in ovarian hormone levels. However, the details of the interrelationships and regulating effects between ovarian hormones, symptoms, and the brain need to be more comprehensively determined. Recent studies have revealed some novel findings on PMS and PMDD based on brain morphology, function, and metabolism. Additionally, multiple studies have suggested that PMS and PMDD are closely related to brain structural and functional variations in certain core temporal lobe regions, such as the amygdala and hippocampus. We summarized neuroimaging studies of PMS and PMDD related to the temporal lobe by retrospectively reviewing relevant literature over the past decade. This review contributes to further clarifying the significant role of the temporal lobe in PMS and PMDD and understanding the neurochemical links between hormones, symptoms, and the brain. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) 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, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2026 How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗