7-Tesla Ultra-High Field MRI of the Parahippocampal Cortex Reveals Evidence of Common Neurobiological Mechanisms of Major Depressive Disorder and Neurotic Personality Traits

Dominik Nießen, Ravichandran Rajkumar, Dilsa Cemre Akkoc Altinok, Gereon Johannes Schnellbächer, Shukti Ramkiran, Jana Hagen, N. Jon Shah, Tanja Veselinović, Irene Neuner

5th July 2025

In a recent study INM-4 and RWTH Aachen researchers explored fundamental MDD-related alterations in brain morphology to provide insights into the underlying pathophysiology of the disease.

Through the use of advanced 7-Tesla ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (7T-UHF-MRI) they identified the parahippocampal cortex (PHC) as another important element of the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) within the human brain. In addition, the study results also suggest the PHC as a tangible neurobiological link between neurotic personality profiles and MDD.

The study included a matched population of 86 adults, consisting of 43 patients with MDD and 43 healthy control participants. Structural images were acquired at an ultra-high field strength of 7T to enable precise measurement of brain structure, revealing a significant reduction in PHC thickness in MDD patients. Furthermore, a low PHC thickness was significantly associated with higher neuroticism, as measured by the NEO-FFI scale.

These findings highlight the involvement of the PHC in the pathophysiology of MDD and neuroticism. The PHC is likely involved in the interplay between memory, emotion, and cognition, a disruption of which may enable dysfunctional cognitive processes, as observed in MDD and neurotic personality profiles. This is well in line with the cognitive model of depression, which proposes that negative cognitive biases contribute to depressive symptomology.

The researchers conclude that the use of ultra-high field MRI, in conjunction with psychological assessments, may contribute to a better understanding of MDD and could also facilitate better personalised patient care. In the future this multimodal approach may enable more effective prevention, early detection, treatment selection, and prognosis assessment.

Original publication: 7-Tesla ultra-high field MRI of the parahippocampal cortex reveals evidence of common neurobiological mechanisms of major depressive disorder and neurotic personality traits