Abnormal Resting-State Connectivity at Functional MRI in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

ObjectivesPremenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a series of cycling and relapsing physical, emotion and behavior syndromes that occur in the luteal phase and resolve soon after the onset of menses. Although PMS is widely recognized, its neural mechanism is still unclear.DesignTo address this question, we measured brain activity for women with PMS and women without PMS (control group) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). In addition, the participants should complete the emotion scales (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI; Beck Depression Inventory, BDI, before the scanning) as well as the stress perception scale (Visual analog scale for stress, VAS, before and after the scanning).ResultsThe results showed that compared with the control group, the PMS group had decreased connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and theparahippocampalgyrus (PHG), as well as increased connectivity in the left medial/superior temporal gyri (MTG/STG) and precentralgyrus within the default mode network (DMN); in addition, the PMS group had higher anxiety and depression scale scores, together with lower stress perception scores. Finally, there were significantly positive correlations between the stress perception scores and functional connectivity in the MFG and cuneus. The BDI scores in the PMS group were correlated negatively with the functional connectivity in the MFG and precuneus and correlated positively with the functional connectivity in the MTG.ConclusionThese findings suggest that compared with normal women, women with PMS displayed abnormal stress sensitivity, which was reflected in the decreased and increased functional connectivity within the DMN, blunted stress perception and higher depression.

Hippocampal fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation and functional connectivity changes in premenstrual syndrome

“…The current finding of increased FC between left HIPP and left PCC indicates that the left HIPP may be connected with the PCC via a close‐knit pathway, exerting an effect on the DMN. This possibility is in accord with a previous report of abnormal activation within the DMN and altered FC in the PCC in PMS patients …”

“…This possibility is in accord with a previous report of abnormal activation within the DMN and altered FC in the PCC in PMS patients. 33 Additionally, the present results revealed increased FC between the left HIPP, right MCC, and bilateral PC. MCC and PC are two regions associated with pain-related modulation.…”

“…30 In addition, physical symptoms, including visceral and cutaneous pain, have been reported to activate bilateral PC. 35 A study by Liu et al 33 showed that, compared with a control group, PMS patients exhibited increased connectivity in the PC, in accord with the current findings. Pain-related physical symptoms, including breast tenderness/swelling, headache and joint or muscle pain, are the main somatic complaints in PMS.…”

Physical Activity and Neural Correlates of Sad Facial Expressions in Premenstrual Syndrome

“…The effects of exercise on ERPs produced in response to higher-order face processing of sad stimuli in fronto-central brain regions of women with PMS remain unclear. As mentioned above, brain activity is modulated by PMS severity [8]. Meanwhile, exercise can mediate cognitive abilities and promote women's health [18] by fine-tuning neuroplasticity [33,34].…”

“…These studies have indicated abnormal spontaneous brain activity in women with PMS, with the severity of symptoms specifically related to left medial frontal cortex (MFC) and right anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) activity [7]. Furthermore, women with PMS displayed abnormal resting-state connectivity, with clearly decreased connectivity in the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and para-hippocampal gyrus (PHG) [8], regions known to play a role in emotional executive functions. Historically, it has been assumed that emotional cognitive control is primarily regulated by prefrontal regions [9].…”