Cohort study, 2015
Do brain networks change during the menstrual cycle and relate to premenstrual symptoms?
Brain networks appear stable across different menstrual cycle phases. However, in women on birth control pills, changes in one brain network area correlated with premenstrual-like symptoms. This was a very small study using advanced brain imaging.
What they did
Longitudinal fMRI brain imaging study. Eighteen women with natural menstrual cycles were scanned at three time points (follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase). Nineteen women using hormonal contraceptives were scanned twice (during inactive and active pill phases). Blood samples measured hormone levels and daily questionnaires tracked premenstrual symptoms.
What they found
The default mode network and executive control network showed no major changes across different hormone phases. In women taking hormonal contraceptives, increased connectivity in the posterior part of the default mode network correlated with premenstrual-like symptoms during the inactive pill phase.
What it means for you
Brain networks stay relatively stable during the menstrual cycle, but some brain changes may relate to premenstrual-like symptoms in women on birth control. The main limitations are the very small sample size and unclear clinical significance of the brain imaging findings.
18
women with natural cycles
19
women on contraceptives
3
scan time points for natural cycle group
About the study
- Original title
- Stability of resting state networks in the female brain during hormonal changes and their relation to premenstrual symptoms
- Authors
- De Bondt T, Smeets D, Pullens P et al.
- Journal
- Brain research
- Year
- 2015
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 19
- What was tested
- None (observational fMRI brain imaging study)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2015.07.045
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