---
title: Do women with PMDD have different brain activity patterns? | Niyora
description: Yes, women with PMDD show a brain activity pattern similar to people with depression, with less activity on the left side of the front part of the brain. This
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prefrontal-brain-asymmetry-and-pre-menstrual-dysphoric-disorder-symptomatology-2011/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Do women with PMDD have different brain activity patterns?

Case-control study, 2011

# Do women with PMDD have different brain activity patterns?

Yes, women with PMDD show a brain activity pattern similar to people with depression, with less activity on the left side of the front part of the brain. This suggests PMDD and depression may share similar brain vulnerability factors.

 Moderate study design

25 college women with PMDD symptoms vs 25 matched controls

## What they did

The study measured brain electrical activity at rest using EEG in 25 women with PMDD symptoms and 25 matched women without it. They tested them 4 times over a 2-week period.

## What they found

Women with PMDD had relatively less activity on the left side compared to the right side in the front part of the brain, consistent with patterns seen in depression. This pattern was found across several brain locations.

## What it means for you

Brain activity differences in PMDD might help researchers understand why some women develop PMDD. The main limitation is the small sample size (25 versus 25), so findings need confirmation in larger studies.

25

Women with PMDD

25

Control women

2 weeks

Study duration

## About the study

Original title Prefrontal brain asymmetry and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder symptomatology Authors Accortt EE, Stewart JL, Coan JA et al. Journal Journal of affective disorders Year 2011 Study design Case-control study Participants 25 What was tested Brain activity measurement via EEG Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.07.017](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.07.017)

## 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/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)

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?

Review, 2024

What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?

Systematic review, 2024

How common is PMDD?

Systematic review, 2021

Are there hormone changes that could explain PMDD or depression in women?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

Can the Sheehan Disability Scale measure whether treatments work?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗