Insights into Basal Ganglia-Thalamo-Cortical Connectivity in Major Depression Using 7T fMRI
Jana Hagen, Shukti Ramkiran, Gereon J. Schnellbächer, Ravichandran Rajkumar, Maria Collee, Nibal Khudeish, Tanja Veselinović, N. Jon Shah and Irene Neuner
17th July 2024
Researchers from INM-4 have contributed to advancing our understanding of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) using ultra-high field (UHF) fMRI. In a study involving 31 MDD patients and 27 age- and gender-matched healthy controls, significant differences in brain connectivity were identified. The use of 7T UHF fMRI analysis to explore fundamental MDD-related alterations in cerebral resting-state functional connectivity patterns provides valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease, particularly regarding the functionality of basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits.
The analysis revealed patterns of hypoconnectivity in basal ganglia-cortical pathways and hyperconnectivity in thalamo-cortical pathways among MDD patients. Additionally, increased connectivity in occipital interhemispheric networks was observed. These findings highlight the substantial role of basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits in MDD and suggest potential deficits in perception and social-emotional processing.
The insights into the vulnerability of these circuits and the consequences when affected might further expand the clinical understanding of MDD, offering the potential to improve diagnosis, treatment, and response monitoring. This research could inform more accurate clinical approaches for diagnosing and treating MDD.
Original publication: Phenomena of hypo- and hyperconnectivity in basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical circuits linked to major depression: a 7T fMRI study