---
title: Does the nervous system work differently before your period and does this affect your mood?
description: Yes. Before your period, women had lower brain alertness and higher nervous system activity, which were linked to more negative moods.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-menstrual-cycle-changes-in-nervous-system-activity-and-1986/
---

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- Does the nervous system work differently before your period and does this affect your mood?

Survey study, 1986

# Does the nervous system work differently before your period and does this affect your mood?

Yes. Before your period, women had lower brain alertness and higher nervous system activity, which were linked to more negative moods.

 Early or limited evidence

30 women tested in the premenstrual phase and mid-cycle

## What they did

Researchers tested 30 women twice: once right before their period and once in the middle of their cycle. They measured how alert their brain was and how their nervous system responded to stimulation.

## What they found

Before the period, women showed lower brain alertness and higher nervous system reactivity. Before the period, how women perceived their nervous system activity was strongly linked to negative mood changes. In the middle of the cycle, brain alertness was high.

## What it means for you

Changes in how your nervous system and brain work before your period might explain changes in your mood. The main limits are this is a very small study with only 30 women and was conducted in 1986.

30

women tested

2

cycle phases tested

## About the study

Original title The relationship between menstrual cycle changes in nervous system activity and psychological, behavioural and physical variables Authors Asso D Journal Biological psychology Year 1986 Study design Survey study Participants 30 Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0301-0511(86)90089-x](https://doi.org/10.1016/0301-0511(86)90089-x)

## Topics

[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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.

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