--- title: Do women with PMS or PMDD show different brain electrical patterns during the luteal phase? description: Yes. Most women with PMS and PMDD showed a specific pattern of brain electrical activity on the left side of the front of the brain during the luteal phase, w url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/frontal-electroencephalogram-asymmetry-during-the-luteal-phase-of-the-menstrual-2015/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMS or PMDD show different brain electrical patterns during the luteal phase? Study, 2015 # Do women with PMS or PMDD show different brain electrical patterns during the luteal phase? Yes. Most women with PMS and PMDD showed a specific pattern of brain electrical activity on the left side of the front of the brain during the luteal phase, while this pattern was much less common in women without PMS. Moderate study design 150 women, of which 145 had PMS and 45 were controls ## What they did This was an observational study with 150 women, of which 145 had PMS and 45 had no PMS (controls). All women answered a structured interview about PMDD symptoms. Brain electrical activity was recorded during both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. ## What they found During the luteal phase, 70% of the women with PMS and 75% of the women with PMDD showed left-sided brain electrical activity at rest. ## What it means for you Women with PMS or PMDD may have a measurable difference in brain electrical patterns during the luteal phase, which could eventually help with diagnosis. The main limits are that this is one study in one location, and we do not yet know what this pattern means for symptom severity. 150 women studied 70% women with PMS showing left-sided brain pattern 75% women with PMDD showing left-sided brain pattern ## About the study Original title Frontal electroencephalogram α-asymmetry during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome Authors AmalElsayed Mahfouz, Mohamed Khalil Mohamed, MohamedNabih El-Gharib Journal Journal of Basic and Clinical Reproductive Sciences Year 2015 Study design Study Participants 150 What was tested None—this was observational Read the paper [doi.org/10.4103/2278-960x.153515](https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-960x.153515) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) 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 Cohort study, 2026 What genetic factors are linked to premenstrual symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 How often do mood disorders and PMS or PMDD occur together? Systematic review, 2026 Does vitamin D supplementation help PMS symptoms? Study, 2026 How do women with PMDD process emotions differently in their brains? Systematic review, 2026 Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle? Systematic review, 2026 How much of PMDD treatment improvement comes from placebo effect? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗