Brain Chemistry Changes With Menstrual Cycle (moved from ATSNN)

A recently published report in the medical journal Nature Neuroscience suggests that hormonal changes caused by a woman's monthly cycle may affect the brain's chemical balance and cause mood swings. The study examined the brain chemistry of mice and found that more of a particular type of chemical that inhibits the action of a hormone (GABA) is produced during the part of the menstrual cycle when progesterone levels were low. The hormone GABA normally produces a soothing effect within the brain; previous studies have shown that low levels of GABA increase the risk of seizures and anxiety.



Premenstrual dysphoric disorder -- PMDD, which is NOT the same as PMS, now appears to be on a solid biochemical basis. What remains to be seen, however, is whether or not a biochemical cure for this problem can be realized.


[edit on 5/16/2005 by ChemicalLaser]

This is news? I think even the cavemen were aware of this 'scientfic finding'

The difference was that the cavemen couldn't do anything about it, without threatening their own survival. As of this moment, modern home sapiens sapiens can do something about it. This discovery of gaba deficiency would probably do well to create medications that could relieve women of said mood swings. Or as a miltaristic option, exploit it to an advantage..

Originally posted by Crysstaafur
Or as a miltaristic option, exploit it to an advantage..

That would be one plus about a Hillary presidency...we could nuke any country we wanted to, apologize the next day blaming it on female hormone imbalance, and everyone would understand!

Ahhhhh djohn speaks as a WISE man......................



muah!

This would not be news, except that for nearly four decades feminist rhetoric has denied that menstruation, or hormones, if you will, have any affect on behavior, at all, and the only time it has been permissible to even suggest such a thing is when a woman has been on trial for having murdered a child or a man.