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


METHODS
To 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).


RESULTS
The 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.


CONCLUSIONS
These 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.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China; Research Center of Emotion Regulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Qing
Q
Liu
Center on Aging Psychology, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
Rui
R
Li
Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China; Department of Psychology, School of Social and Behavioral Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China; Research Center of Emotion Regulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Renlai
R
Zhou
Center on Aging Psychology, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
Juan
J
Li
Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China; Research Center of Emotion Regulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China.
Quan
Q
Gu
D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult