Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Anterior cingulate cortex in individuals with depressive symptoms: A structural MRI study
Hicham M Ibrahim1, Alexandra Kulikova1, Huy Ly1
1Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have reported reduction in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) volume in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, some MRI studies did not find significant ACC volumetric changes in MDD, and sample sizes were generally small. This cross-sectional structural MRI study examined the relationship between current depressive symptoms and ACC volume in a large community sample of 1803 adults. A series of multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to predict right and left ACC volumes using Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) scores, intracranial volume, age, sex, race/ethnicity, alcohol use, tobacco use, and psychotropic medications as predictor variables. Right ACC volume was significantly negatively associated with QIDS-SR scores, while no significant association was found between left ACC volume and QIDS-SR scores. In addition, there was a significant negative association between QIDS-SR scores and right but not left ACC volumes in males, and no significant association between QIDS-SR scores and right or left ACC volumes in females. These findings suggest that right ACC volume is reduced in people with greater self-reported depressive symptom severity, and that this association is only significant in men.
Insights
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is linked to reduced right anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) volume, particularly in men. Greater depressive symptom severity correlates with smaller right ACC volume in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies show inconsistent findings regarding anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) volume reductions in major depressive disorder (MDD).
- Small sample sizes in prior research limit definitive conclusions on ACC volumetric changes in MDD.
- The relationship between depressive symptom severity and ACC volume requires further investigation in large, diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between current depressive symptoms and ACC volume in a large community sample.
- To determine if ACC volumetric differences are related to the severity of self-reported depressive symptoms in adults.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional structural MRI study was conducted on 1803 adult participants.
- Multiple linear regression analyses predicted right and left ACC volumes using Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) scores and other covariates.
- Covariates included intracranial volume, age, sex, race/ethnicity, alcohol use, tobacco use, and psychotropic medication use.
Main Results:
- A significant negative association was found between QIDS-SR scores and right ACC volume, indicating reduced volume with increased depressive symptoms.
- No significant association was observed between QIDS-SR scores and left ACC volume.
- This negative association between QIDS-SR scores and right ACC volume was significant in males but not in females.
Conclusions:
- Right ACC volume is reduced in individuals experiencing greater self-reported depressive symptom severity.
- The association between reduced right ACC volume and depressive symptoms is sex-specific, being significant only in men.
- These findings contribute to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of major depressive disorder and highlight potential sex differences.
