--- title: Do women with PMDD have different brain connectivity patterns than women without it? description: Women with PMDD showed stronger connections in brain networks related to emotional control compared to women without PMDD. However, this is a small study and url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/resting-state-functional-connectivity-in-women-with-pmdd-2019/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with PMDD have different brain connectivity patterns than women without it? Case-control study, 2019 # Do women with PMDD have different brain connectivity patterns than women without it? Women with PMDD showed stronger connections in brain networks related to emotional control compared to women without PMDD. However, this is a small study and findings are preliminary. Early or limited evidence 36 women (18 with PMDD, 18 healthy controls) ## What they did Researchers used brain imaging (fMRI) to compare brain activity patterns in 36 women (18 with PMDD, 18 without) during different phases of their menstrual cycle. They scanned women before and after an emotion regulation task in both the follicular and luteal phases. ## What they found Women with PMDD had significantly stronger connectivity between the left middle temporal gyrus and the left executive control network across all four scanning sessions. Amygdala connectivity changed with menstrual cycle phase in both groups but did not differ between groups. ## What it means for you Women with PMDD may have different patterns of brain activity related to emotion control, which could eventually help develop better treatments. The main limitation is the small sample size and the preliminary nature of the findings. 36 women studied 18 women with PMDD 18 healthy controls ## About the study Original title Resting-state functional connectivity in women with PMDD Authors Petersen N, Ghahremani DG, Rapkin AJ et al. Journal Translational psychiatry Year 2019 Study design Case-control study What was tested None (observational fMRI study) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0670-8](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0670-8) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is an understudied, debilitating disorder of women. Given evidence for prefrontal cortical and limbic dysfunction in PMDD, we compared intrinsic connectivity of the executive control network (ECN), default mode network (DMN), and amygdala in women with PMDD vs. controls. Methods: Thirty-six women (18 PMDD, 18 control) participated in fMRI during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. At each time, resting-state functional connectivity was evaluated both before and after participants performed an emotion regulation task. The ECN was identified using independent components analysis, and connectivity of left and right amygdala seeds was also evaluated. Results: Nonparametric permutation testing identified a cluster in the left middle temporal gyrus (MTG) with significantly stronger connectivity to the left ECN in women with PMDD vs. controls in all four fMRI sessions. Women with PMDD exhibited no difference in functional connectivity between menstrual cycle phases. Amygdala connectivity did not differ between the groups but differed significantly with menstrual phase, with left amygdala connectivity to cingulate cortex being significantly stronger during the follicular vs. luteal phase. Right amygdala connectivity to the middle frontal gyrus was also stronger during the follicular vs. luteal phase, with no group differences. These findings suggest that women with PMDD have different intrinsic network dynamics in the left executive control network compared to healthy controls. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [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 continuous paroxetine or birth control work better for PMDD? 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 Can digital tools help diagnose PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗