Cerebral Lateralization in Adolescent Girls with Premenstrual Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to compare differences and similarities the cerebral lateralization of adolescent girls with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) with the control group. We also aimed to investigate whether there was a relationship between PMS severity and cerebral lateralization.Materials and Methods: A total of 79 female adolescents aged 14-18 years who met the study inclusion criteria completed the study. A second interview was held with all participants who filled out the Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF) during the luteal periods of menstrual cycles (1-7 days before menstruation). All participants completed the Harris lateralization test.Results: The mean age was 192.85 +/- 14.54 (range 167 -216) months. The median PMS score was found to be 2.26 (1.00 -5.10). While PMS was not detected in 35 (44.30%) participants, mild PMS was detected in 20 (25.32%) participants, moderate in 14 (17.72%), and severe in 10 (12.66%) participants. Sixty-seven (84.81%) participants had right hand dominance and three (3.80%) left hand dominance, nine (11.39%) participants had hand uncertainty. While the hand and eye dominance were on the same side in 41 (51.90%) participants, cross- lateralization (all right hand, left eye) was detected in 11 (13.92%) participants. Indeterminate lateralization (Harris lateralization score of 1 or 2) for the hand and eye was significantly higher in the PMS group.Conclusion: The findings raise the question of whether lateralization (hand-eye) is less common in individuals with PMS and whether there will be a common etiology for lateralization problem and PMS. Further studies are needed considering the factors that may contribute to this etiology and some of the limitations we have presented in our study.