Association between Cortical Gyrification and Major Depression: Clinical Correlates

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent global psychiatric condition.
• Cortical gyrification is emerging as a potential early risk marker for depression.
• The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is implicated in mood regulation and depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate left ACC gyrification as a potential biomarker for MDD.
• To explore the association between ACC gyrification patterns and MDD characteristics.
• To examine the relationship between ACC gyrification and personality traits.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of medial views of cortical surface reconstructions for gyrification measurement.
• Expert rater-based assessment of left ACC gyrification patterns.
• Comparison of gyrification variants between individuals with and without MDD.
• Correlation analysis with age of disorder onset and personality scores (neuroticism, extraversion).

Main Results:

• A specific left ACC gyrification pattern (fewer antero-posterior gyri) was more common in individuals with a history of MDD (p = .048).
• Individuals with this fewer-gyri variant experienced earlier onset of MDD (d = -0.30).
• Fewer longitudinal gyri in the left ACC correlated with higher neuroticism scores (η2= .02).
• Automated gyrification and surface area measures generally supported expert findings.

Conclusions:

• Left ACC gyrification may serve as an early phenotypic marker for MDD, potentially reflecting early developmental factors.
• This finding warrants further investigation in at-risk populations and with advanced neuroimaging techniques.