--- title: Do women with PMDD have different brain network patterns than women without PMDD? description: Yes. Using brain imaging, researchers found that women with PMDD have different patterns of connection between brain regions in three brain networks compared url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/aberrant-intrinsic-brain-network-functional-connectivity-during-a-face-matching-2023/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have different brain network patterns than women without PMDD? Study, 2023 # Do women with PMDD have different brain network patterns than women without PMDD? Yes. Using brain imaging, researchers found that women with PMDD have different patterns of connection between brain regions in three brain networks compared to women without PMDD. Moderate study design 24 women with PMDD and 27 women without PMDD ## What they did Researchers recruited 24 women with PMDD and 27 control women for two brain scans at different cycle phases: midfollicular (early, few symptoms) and late-luteal (late, strongest symptoms). During scans, women matched emotions in faces. Researchers measured connections between regions in three brain networks: default mode, salience, and central executive. ## What they found Overall brain activity in specific regions showed no clear differences between groups. However, women with PMDD had weaker connections in the default mode and central executive networks, but stronger connections in the salience network compared to control women. In women with PMDD, the central executive network showed stronger connections during the early cycle phase than the late-luteal phase. ## What it means for you Different brain network connection patterns in women with PMDD may explain emotional and thinking problems associated with the disorder. However, this study looked at brain networks during one specific task, and it is unclear whether these patterns explain physical symptoms. The study included only 24 women with PMDD. 24 women with PMDD 27 control women 2 brain scans per woman ## About the study Original title Aberrant Intrinsic Brain Network Functional Connectivity During a Face-Matching Task in Women Diagnosed With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Reuveni I, Dan R, Canetti L et al. Journal Biological psychiatry Year 2023 Study design Study Participants 27 What was tested None - observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.04.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.04.001) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/) 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 Systematic review, 2026 Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD? Systematic review, 2025 How do cognition and behavior change across the menstrual cycle in people with PMDD? Survey study, 2020 What symptoms best predict whether PMDD will seriously affect daily life? Survey study, 2018 Does the menstrual cycle affect emotions and thinking ability? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Systematic review, 2014 Do estrogen and progesterone change how the brain processes emotions and decisions? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗