--- title: Does progesterone activate the part of the brain that handles fear and emotion? description: In 18 healthy women, taking progesterone doses that matched luteal phase levels significantly increased activity in the amygdala (the brain's emotion and fear url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/brain-imaging-suggests-origin-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2007/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does progesterone activate the part of the brain that handles fear and emotion? Case-control study, 2007 # Does progesterone activate the part of the brain that handles fear and emotion? In 18 healthy women, taking progesterone doses that matched luteal phase levels significantly increased activity in the amygdala (the brain's emotion and fear center) when viewing emotional images. This may explain why progesterone could cause anxiety in women with PMDD. Moderate study design 18 mentally and physically healthy young women ## What they did Small brain imaging study (fMRI) comparing amygdala activation in 18 young women. They were tested twice during their follicular phase: once after taking placebo and once after taking progesterone that raised levels to luteal phase amounts. ## What they found Amygdala activation was significantly greater after progesterone than after placebo when women viewed emotional stimuli. Progesterone did not affect activity in other brain regions tested. ## What it means for you Progesterone may trigger anxiety by activating the amygdala in women with PMDD. However, this was a small study in healthy women without PMDD, so results may not apply to affected women. 18 Healthy young women studied day 2-7 Follicular phase testing days ## About the study Original title Brain Imaging Suggests Origin of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Joan Arehart-Treichel Journal Psychiatric News Year 2007 Study design Case-control study Participants 18 What was tested Oral progesterone dose (to mimic luteal phase levels) or placebo, both given during follicular phase Read the paper [doi.org/10.1176/pn.42.18.0013a](https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.42.18.0013a) ## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/) 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 Randomised trial, 2021 Does ulipristal acetate help premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Randomised trial, 2023 What does research show about PMDD neurochemistry? Randomised trial, 2001 Do changing reproductive hormones disrupt the body's internal clock and cause mood disorders? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Review, 2008 What medications are FDA-approved for treating PMDD? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗