Brain Structural Correlates of EEG Network Hyperexcitability, Symptom Severity, Attention, and Memory in Borderline...

Introduction: Previous neuroimaging studies have reported structural brain alterations and local network hyperexcitability in terms of increased slow-wave electroencephalography (EEG) activity in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In particular, intermittent rhythmic delta and theta activity (IRDA/IRTA) has drawn attention in mental health contexts due to its links with metabolic imbalances, neuronal stress, and emotional dysregulation-processes that are highly pertinent to BPD. These functional disturbances may be reflected in corresponding structural brain changes. The current study investigated cortical thickness and subcortical volumes in BPD and examined their associations with IRDA/IRTA events per minute, symptom severity, and neuropsychological measures. Methods: Seventy female BPD patients and 36 age-matched female healthy controls (HC) were included (for clinical EEG comparisons even 72 patients were available). IRDA/IRTA rates were assessed using an automatic independent component analyses (ICA) approach. T1-weighted MRI data were obtained using a MAGNETOM Prisma 3T system and analyzed with FreeSurfer (version 7.2) for subcortical structures and CAT12 for cortical thickness and global volume measurements. Psychometric assessments included questionnaires such as Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) and Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO). Neuropsychological performance was evaluated with the Test for Attentional Performance (TAP), Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFT-20-R), and Verbal Learning and Memory Test (VLMT). Results: Between-group comparisons exhibited no significant increase in IRDA/IRTA rates or structural abnormalities between the BPD and HC group. However, within the BPD group, cortical thickness of the right isthmus of the cingulate gyrus negatively correlated with the IRDA/IRTA difference (after minus before hyperventilation, HV; p < 0.001). Furthermore, BPD symptom severity (BSL-23) and IPO scores positively correlated with the thickness of the right rostral anterior cingulate cortex (p < 0.001), and IPO scores were associated with the thickness of the right temporal pole (p < 0.001). Intrinsic alertness (TAP) significantly correlated with relative cerebellar volume (p = 0.01). Discussion: While no group-level structural abnormalities were observed, correlations between EEG slowing, BPD symptom severity, and alertness with cortical thickness and/or subcortical volumes suggest a potential role of the anterior cingulate cortex, temporal pole, and cerebellum in emotion regulation and cognitive functioning in BPD. Future research employing multimodal EEG-MRI approaches may provide deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underlying BPD and guide personalized therapeutic strategies.