Effects of the premenstrual syndrome on facial expressions of sadness.
This study examined the relationship between PMS and emotion-related electromyographic facial activity at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Twenty-four women of reproductive age (12 with PMS, 12 controls) participated in two EMG sessions (T1 and T2) in which they were shown photographic images that can elicit various emotions (IAPS stimuli). T1 took place in the follicular phase, T2 in the luteal phase. The activity of the musculus depressor anguli oris ("depressor", expression of sadness) was measured. Depressor activity was compared to activity of musculus orbicularis oculi ("orbicularis"; expression of joy). ANOVA yielded a significant increase of the activity of the depressor at T2 in the PMS group. The PMS group showed more frequent depressor activity during the luteal than the follicular phase. Orbicularis activity did not change from T1 to T2.


CONCLUSIONS
The PMS group experienced various visual stimuli in a more depressed way during the luteal phase.
Mass
Reinhard
R
Center of Mental Health Marienheide, Germany. reinhard.mass@kkh-gummersbach.de
Moll
Bettina
B
Hölldorfer
Marion
M
Wiedemann
Klaus
K
Richter-Appelt
Hertha
H
Dahme
Bernhard
B
Wolf
Karsten
K
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004576:Electromyography; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000523:psychology; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000523:psychology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D012016:Reference Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires