Case-control study, 2004
Does PMDD change the brain's electrical activity?
Yes. Women with PMDD show a shift to negative patterns in brain electrical activity during the luteal phase while controls remain stable. This change in a brain measure linked to mood matches their severe negative mood.
What they did
Case-control study measuring brain electrical activity (EEG) in 5 women with PMDD across two menstrual cycles and 5 control women across one cycle. Researchers measured alpha asymmetry, an electrical pattern linked to mood state.
What they found
During the luteal phase, PMDD women's brain electrical patterns shifted into the negative range, while control women remained in normal ranges. Both groups started in normal ranges before the luteal phase.
What it means for you
PMDD involves measurable changes in brain activity linked to mood state. Findings are preliminary and limited by very small sample size (5 women per group) and only one cycle observed in controls.
5
Women with PMDD
5
Control women
2
Menstrual cycles in PMDD group
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder and changes in frontal alpha asymmetry
- Authors
- Baehr E, Rosenfeld P, Miller L et al.
- Journal
- International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
- Year
- 2004
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- EEG brain electrical activity monitoring across menstrual cycle
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2003.06.002
Topics
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