Case-control study, 2020
Are brain networks organized differently in women with PMDD?
Yes, women with PMDD showed altered communication patterns between brain regions in both cycle phases. The study is relatively small, so results need confirmation in larger groups.
What they did
Researchers scanned the brains of 24 drug-naive women with PMDD and 27 women without premenstrual symptoms during the follicular and late-luteal phases using fMRI to measure how connected different brain regions were to each other.
What they found
Women with PMDD showed altered communication patterns between brain regions in both cycle phases, with regions more connected overall. They had different connectivity in the anterior temporal lobe, basal ganglia, and thalamus. Difficulty with emotion regulation was linked to specific connectivity patterns involving the striatum, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex.
What it means for you
PMDD may involve how different brain regions communicate with each other, not just changes in hormone levels. These differences could be stable features of the disorder rather than temporary changes. But the study is relatively small and would need to be repeated in larger groups.
24
women with PMDD
27
women without premenstrual symptoms
2
brain scans per person at different cycle phases
About the study
- Original title
- Trait-related changes in brain network topology in premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Authors
- Dan R, Reuveni I, Canetti L et al.
- Journal
- Hormones and behavior
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104782
Topics
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