---
title: Do women with PMDD have changes in memory or thinking speed across the menstrual cycle?
description: Women with PMDD showed subtle slowing on motor speed tasks during the late luteal phase, but scores remained within the normal range. Memory and attention wer
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neuropsychological-performance-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-women-with-and-1998/
---

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- Do women with PMDD have changes in memory or thinking speed across the menstrual cycle?

Case-control study, 1998

# Do women with PMDD have changes in memory or thinking speed across the menstrual cycle?

Women with PMDD showed subtle slowing on motor speed tasks during the late luteal phase, but scores remained within the normal range. Memory and attention were not affected.

 Moderate study design

19 women with PMDD and 18 women with mild to moderate PMS symptoms

## What they did

After tracking symptoms for 2 months, 19 women with PMDD and 18 women with mild to moderate PMS symptoms completed neuropsychological tests during the late follicular phase (pre-ovulation) and late luteal phase (premenstrual). Tests measured psychomotor speed, attention, and verbal learning and memory.

## What they found

Women with PMDD showed significant psychomotor slowing during the late luteal phase compared to the late follicular phase, though the slowing was subtle and scores remained within the normal range. No differences were found between groups on measures of attention or verbal learning and memory.

## What it means for you

PMDD may cause very subtle changes in movement speed before the period, but this is minor and not in the abnormal range. The practical impact on daily life is likely small.

19

women with PMDD

18

women with mild-moderate PMS

subtle slowing

psychomotor change observed

## About the study

Original title Neuropsychological performance across the menstrual cycle in women with and without Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Resnick A, Perry W, Parry B et al. Journal Psychiatry research Year 1998 Study design Case-control study Participants 19 What was tested None - observational cognitive testing study Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(97)00142-x](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(97)00142-x)

## 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/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

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