--- title: Does the premenstrual phase change how the brain responds to rewards? description: Yes. Brain scans showed that the reward-processing part of the brain is more active during the premenstrual phase than during other times in the cycle, especi url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/changes-in-functioning-of-mesolimbic-incentive-processing-circuits-during-the-2011/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does the premenstrual phase change how the brain responds to rewards? Study, 2011 # Does the premenstrual phase change how the brain responds to rewards? Yes. Brain scans showed that the reward-processing part of the brain is more active during the premenstrual phase than during other times in the cycle, especially in women with more premenstrual symptoms. Moderate study design 28 healthy young women ## What they did Twenty-eight healthy young women had brain scans on two different days of their menstrual cycle: once during the late follicular phase and once during the premenstrual phase. While having the scans, they did a task involving anticipating money rewards. ## What they found A part of the brain involved in reward processing showed more activity during the premenstrual phase than during the follicular phase. This increase was strongest in women who reported more premenstrual symptoms. The hormone drop before your period appears to trigger a withdrawal-like change in the brain's reward system. ## What it means for you Changes in how the brain responds to rewards may explain why some women's motivation and behavior change before their period. This could help explain mood and behavior changes during the premenstrual phase. The study involved only 28 women and was done only once, so larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. 28 women in study ## About the study Original title Changes in functioning of mesolimbic incentive processing circuits during the premenstrual phase Authors Ossewaarde L, van Wingen GA, Kooijman SC et al. Journal Social cognitive and affective neuroscience Year 2011 Study design Study What was tested None - observational study using brain imaging Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsq071](https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsq071) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Cohort study, 2025 How common is PMS in Chinese teenage girls, and what factors are linked to it? Systematic review, 2025 Does alcohol use affect menstrual health in teenage girls? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Randomised trial, 2024 Does curcumin-piperine combination improve antioxidant activity in women with PMS and period pain? Systematic review, 2024 How common is premenstrual syndrome in Africa, and what factors increase the risk? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗