| Title |
EEG-based investigation of emotion regulation in women with and without premenstrual disorders: a pilot study |
| Translation of Title |
EEG pagrįstas emocijų reguliacijos tyrimas moterims su priešmenstruaciniais sutrikimais ir be jų: pilotinis tyrimas. |
| Authors |
Palaimaitė, Monika |
| Full Text |
|
| Pages |
75 |
| Keywords [eng] |
Menstrual Cycle, Emotion Regulation, Premenstrual Disorders, EEG, ERP, PMDD, Psychophysiology |
| Abstract [eng] |
Premenstrual disorders are associated with emotional instability and difficulties in emotion regulation. Fluctuations of ovarian hormones across the menstrual cycle may influence emotional processing and neural mechanisms related to emotional regulation. The aim of this pilot study was to develop and validate an experimental protocol for investigation of emotion regulation across menstrual cycle phases using behavioral and ERP measures. Goals of the thesis: to develop a cognitive reappraisal-based emotion regulation task using emotional visual stimuli, evaluate applicability of the paradigm for eliciting behavioral and ERP responses associated with emotional processing and emotion regulation, investigate phase-related differences in behavioral and ERP measures, and assess inter-individual variability across the menstrual cycle. Seven women aged 19–30 participated in the study. Participants completed repeated experimental sessions during early follicular, ovulation, and late luteal menstrual cycle phases. During the sessions participants performed an emotion regulation task while EEG was recorded. Subjective valence and arousal ratings were collected after stimulus presentation. ERP analysis focused on N2 and LPP components associated with cognitive control and emotional processing. The developed emotion regulation task successfully differentiated emotional stimulus categories at both behavioral and ERP levels. Negative stimuli were rated as the most unpleasant and emotionally arousing, while emotional conditions elicited larger LPP amplitudes compared to neutral stimuli. Cognitive reappraisal reduced subjective arousal ratings and increased valence ratings during regulation trials. No statistically significant phase-related differences were observed in behavioral regulation effects or ERP measures. Behavioral and ERP responses demonstrated substantial inter-individual variability across participants. One participant demonstrated severe menstrual cycle-related symptoms and differed from the asymptomatic pilot sample across behavioral and ERP measures. The findings show the applicability of the experimental paradigm for future longitudinal research of emotion regulation across the menstrual cycle. |
| Dissertation Institution |
Vilniaus universitetas. |
| Type |
Master thesis |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2026 |
