title: Changes in functioning of mesolimbic incentive processing circuits during the premenstrual phase.
abstract: The premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle is associated with marked changes in normal and abnormal motivated behaviors. Animal studies suggest that such effects may result from actions of gonadal hormones on the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. We therefore investigated premenstrual changes in reward-related neural activity in terminal regions of the DA system in humans. Twenty-eight healthy young women underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging on 2 days during the menstrual cycle, once during the late follicular phase and once during the premenstrual phase, in counterbalanced order. Using a modified version of the monetary incentive delay task, we assessed responsiveness of the ventral striatum to reward anticipation. Our results show enhanced ventral striatal responses during the premenstrual as compared to the follicular phase. Moreover, this effect was most pronounced in women reporting more premenstrual symptoms. These findings provide support for the notion that changes in functioning of mesolimbic incentive processing circuits may underlie premenstrual changes in motivated behaviors. Notably, increases in reward-cue responsiveness have previously been associated with DA withdrawal states. Our findings therefore suggest that the sharp decline of gonadal hormone levels in the premenstrual phase may trigger a similar withdrawal-like state.
authors.affiliation: Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. lindsey.ossewaarde@donders.ru.nl
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ossewaarde
authors.forename: Guido A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van Wingen
authors.forename: Sabine C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kooijman
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bäckström
authors.forename: Guillén
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Erno J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hermans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008032:Limbic System / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011280:Pregnanolone / Q000378:metabolism; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011280:Pregnanolone; D010100:Oxygen
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