---
title: Does cognitive function decline in women with PMS, and can brain imaging detect it?
description: Women with PMS showed significantly lower correct responses on harder cognitive tasks and reduced brain activation during the luteal phase compared to women w
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/cognitive-function-evaluation-in-premenstrual-syndrome-during-the-follicular-and-2022/
---

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- Does cognitive function decline in women with PMS, and can brain imaging detect it?

Case-control study, 2022

# Does cognitive function decline in women with PMS, and can brain imaging detect it?

Women with PMS showed significantly lower correct responses on harder cognitive tasks and reduced brain activation during the luteal phase compared to women without PMS, which could be detected with brain imaging. The decline was linked to worsening mood.

 Early or limited evidence

22 university-aged women (11 with PMS, 11 without), aged 20-25

## What they did

Researchers tested 11 women with PMS and 11 without PMS, all aged 20-25, twice during their menstrual cycle (once during the follicular phase and once during the luteal phase). During each test, participants performed cognitive tasks of varying difficulty while researchers measured brain activity in the prefrontal cortex using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

## What they found

Women with PMS had significantly lower correct response rates on the most challenging 2-back task in both the follicular phase (P=0.01) and luteal phase (P=0.02) compared to controls. During the luteal phase, brain activation was significantly lower in the PMS group (P=0.04), and they also reported higher negative mood.

## What it means for you

Brain imaging may offer an objective way to diagnose PMS by detecting the cognitive decline that occurs during the luteal phase. The main limitation is the very small sample size (only 11 women in each group) and narrow age range (20-25 years), so results may not apply to older women or different populations.

11

women with PMS

11

women without PMS

P=0.04

brain activation difference in luteal phase

## About the study

Original title Cognitive function evaluation in premenstrual syndrome during the follicular and luteal phases using near-infrared spectroscopy Authors Aoki M, Suzuki M, Suzuki S et al. Journal Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology Year 2022 Study design Case-control study Participants 11 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100117](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100117)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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