Research
Research interests
Advanced neuroimaging methods reveal how brain structure and connectivity relate to cognition, aging, and depression.
Research overview
Our work is organized into several interconnected research areas.
Select an area to read about it and see its key publications
Methods
Computational neuroanatomy
We combine the neuroanatomy with the computational power of novel neuroimaging methods. Our lab develops advanced high-field Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) methods to analyze different cortical and subcortical brain structures in-vivo. These methods allow closer translation between preclinical models of the impact of aging and stress on the medial temporal lobe structures and prefrontal cortex and clinical studies of major depressive disorder and pathological aging.
Key publications8
- 2019Involvement of hippocampal subfields and anteroposterior subregions in encoding and retrieval of item, spatial, and associative memories: Longitudinal versus transverse axisHrybouski S, MacGillivray M, Huang Y, Madan CR, Carter R, Seres P, Malykhin NNeuroImage 191: 568-586
- 2018In vivo quantification of amygdala subnuclei using 4.7 T fast spin echo imagingAghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Huang Y, Olsen F, Malykhin NVNeuroImage 170: 151-163
- 2016Amygdala subnuclei response and connectivity during emotional processingHrybouski S, Aghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Madan CR, Shafer AT, Baron CA, Seres P, Beaulieu C, Olsen F, Malykhin NVNeuroImage 133: 98-110
- 2015Delphi definition of the EADC-ADNI Harmonized Protocol for hippocampal segmentation on magnetic resonanceBoccardi M, Bocchetta M, Apostolova LG, Barnes J, Bartzokis G, Corbetta G, DeCarli C, deToledo-Morrell L, Firbank M, Ganzola R, Gerritsen L, Henneman W, Killiany RJ, Malykhin N, Pasqualetti P, Pruessner JC, Redolfi A, Robitaille N, Soininen H, Tolomeo D, Wang L, Watson C, Wolf H, Duvernoy H, Duchesne S, Jack CR Jr, Frisoni GB; EADC-ADNI Working Group on the Harmonized Protocol for Manual Hippocampal SegmentationAlzheimer’s & Dementia 11(2): 126-38
- 2011Structural organization of the prefrontal white matter pathways in the adult and aging brain measured by diffusion tensor imagingMalykhin NV, Vahidy S, Michielse S, Coupland N, Camicioli R, Seres P, Carter RBrain Structure and Function 216(4): 417-31
- 2010In-vivo quantification of hippocampal subfields using 4.7T Fast Spin Echo imagingMalykhin NV, Lebel RM, Coupland N, Wilman A, Carter RNeuroImage 49(2): 1224-30
- 2008Diffusion tensor imaging tractography and reliability analysis for limbic and paralimbic white matter tractsMalykhin NV, Concha L, Seres P, Beaulieu C, Coupland NJPsychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 164(2): 132–142
- 2007Three-dimensional volumetric analysis and reconstruction of amygdala and hippocampal head, body and tailMalykhin NV, Bouchard TP, Ogilvie CJ, Coupland NJ, Seres P, Camicioli RPsychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 155(2): 155-165
Lifespan
Aging brain
This line of research is related to characterization of structural and functional brain changes in healthy aging. With the main focus on the medial temporal lobe structures and prefrontal cortex, we study how healthy cognitive aging affects their structure, structural/functional connectivity, and cognitive functions. We are also interested in how genetic polymorphisms, sex/gender, and personality traits are related to differences in size of the brain structures, episodic memory function, and ability to accurately recognize emotions of others.
Key publications13
- 2024Effects of healthy aging and mnemonic strategies on verbal memory performance across the adult lifespan: Mediating role of posterior hippocampusHoang KN, Huang Y, Fujiwara E, Malykhin NHippocampus 34(2): 100-122
- 2024Contributions of hippocampal subfields and subregions to episodic memory performance in healthy cognitive agingMalykhin N, Pietrasik W, Hoang KN, Huang YNeurobiology of Aging 133: 51-66
- 2024Aging, cingulate cortex, and cognition: insights from structural MRI, emotional recognition, and theory of mindAghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Pietrasik W, Malykhin NVBrain Structure and Function 229(3): 657-680
- 2023Diffusion tensor imaging of superficial prefrontal white matter in healthy agingPietrasik W, Cribben I, Olsen F, Malykhin NBrain Research 1799: 148152
- 2023Emotional recognition across the adult lifespan: Effects of age, sex, cognitive empathy, alexithymia traits, and amygdala subnuclei volumesMalykhin N, Pietrasik W, Aghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Ngan Hoang K, Fujiwara E, Olsen FJournal of Neuroscience Research 101(3): 367-383
- 2021Investigating the effects of healthy cognitive aging on brain functional connectivity using 4.7 T resting-state functional magnetic resonance imagingHrybouski S, Cribben I, McGonigle J, Olsen F, Carter R, Seres P, Madan CR, Malykhin NVBrain Structure and Function 226(4): 1067-1098
- 2021Selective effects of healthy cognitive aging and Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) polymorphism on limbic white matter tractsAghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Olsen F, Seres P, Malykhin NBrain Connectivity 12(2): 146-163
- 2020Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Corpus Callosum in Healthy Aging: Investigating Higher Order Polynomial Regression ModellingPietrasik W, Cribben I, Olsen I, Huang Y, Malykhin NNeuroImage 213: 116675
- 2020The associations of the BDNF and APOE polymorphisms, hippocampal subfield volumes, and episodic memory performance across the lifespanMalykhin N, Travis S, Fujiwara R, Camicioli R, Olsen FHippocampus 30(10): 1081-1097
- 2019Amygdala subnuclei and healthy cognitive agingAghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Hrybouski S, Travis S, Huang Y, Olsen F, Carter R, Camicioli R, Malykhin NHuman Brain Mapping 40(1): 34-52
- 2017Differential vulnerability of hippocampal subfields and antero-posterior hippocampal subregions in healthy cognitive agingMalykhin NV, Huang Y, Hrybouski S, Olsen FNeurobiology of Aging 59: 121-134
- 2010Selective effects of aging on brain white matter microstructure: a diffusion tensor imaging tractography studyMichielse S, Coupland NJ, Camicioli R, Carter R, Seres P, Sabino J, Malykhin NVNeuroImage 52(4): 1190-201
- 2008Aging hippocampus and amygdalaMalykhin NV, Bouchard TP, Camicioli R, Coupland NJNeuroReport 19(5): 543-547
Cognition
Neurobiology of memory and emotions
We apply targeted high-resolution structural and functional MRI at 4.7 Tesla to understand how different hippocampal subfields and subregions support episodic memory function across adult lifespan. In addition, we target individual amygdala subnuclei to understand how they are involved in processing emotions.
Key publications10
- 2024Effects of healthy aging and mnemonic strategies on verbal memory performance across the adult lifespan: Mediating role of posterior hippocampusHoang KN, Huang Y, Fujiwara E, Malykhin NHippocampus 34(2): 100-122
- 2024Aging, cingulate cortex, and cognition: insights from structural MRI, emotional recognition, and theory of mindAghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Pietrasik W, Malykhin NVBrain Structure and Function 229(3): 657-680
- 2024Contributions of hippocampal subfields and subregions to episodic memory performance in healthy cognitive agingMalykhin N, Pietrasik W, Hoang KN, Huang YNeurobiology of Aging 133: 51-66
- 2023Emotional recognition across the adult lifespan: Effects of age, sex, cognitive empathy, alexithymia traits, and amygdala subnuclei volumesMalykhin N, Pietrasik W, Aghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Ngan Hoang K, Fujiwara E, Olsen FJournal of Neuroscience Research 101(3): 367-383
- 2020The associations of the BDNF and APOE polymorphisms, hippocampal subfield volumes, and episodic memory performance across the lifespanMalykhin N, Travis S, Fujiwara R, Camicioli R, Olsen FHippocampus 30(10): 1081-1097
- 2019Involvement of hippocampal subfields and anteroposterior subregions in encoding and retrieval of item, spatial, and associative memories: Longitudinal versus transverse axisHrybouski S, MacGillivray M, Huang Y, Madan CR, Carter R, Seres P, Malykhin NNeuroImage 191: 568-586
- 2016Effects of cortisol on hippocampal subfields volumes and memory performance in healthy control subjects and patients with major depressive disorderTravis SG, Coupland NJ, Hegadoren K, Silverstone PH, Huang Y, Carter R, Fujiwara E, Seres P, Malykhin NVJournal of Affective Disorders 201: 34-41
- 2016Amygdala subnuclei response and connectivity during emotional processingHrybouski S, Aghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Madan CR, Shafer AT, Baron CA, Seres P, Beaulieu C, Olsen F, Malykhin NVNeuroImage 133: 98-110
- 2014High field structural MRI reveals specific episodic memory correlates in the subfields of the hippocampusTravis SG, Huang Y, Fujiwara E, Radomski A, Carter R, Seres P, Malykhin NVNeuropsychologia 53: 233-245
- 2014Dentate gyrus volume and memory performance in major depressive disorderTravis S, Coupland NJ, Silversone PH, Huang Y, Fujiwara E, Carter R, Seres P, Malykhin NVJournal of Affective Disorders 172C: 159-164
Clinical
Depression, childhood trauma, and chronic stress
We use neuroimaging applications to understand structural and functional brain changes associated with Major Depressive Disorder, adverse childhood experiences, and chronic stress. Previously we demonstrated long lasting impact of MDD and childhood trauma on hippocampus and amygdala, structures shown to be affected by chronic stress in preclinical studies. More recently, we focus on long-term impact of chronic stress and cortisol on brain structure, functional connectivity, and mental health outcomes.
Key publications11
- 2026Sex differences in impact of daily and chronic psychological stressors on diurnal cortisol levelMalykhin N, Serrano J, Hegadoren K, Pietrasik WPharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior 261: 174165
- 2026Stress-related changes in amygdala network functional connectivitySerrano J, Hrybouski S, Malykhin NBiological Psychology 206: 109245
- 2025Effects of duration and intensity of psychological stressors on mental health outcomesMalykhin N, Serrano J, Pietrasik W, Hegadoren KJournal of Psychiatric Research 187: 211-222
- 2025Effects of variations in daily cortisol pattern and long-term cortisol output on hippocampal subfield volumes in adult human brainMalykhin N, Serrano J, Reiz B, Pietrasik W, Hegadoren K, Whittal RBiological Psychiatry: Global Open Science 5(3): 100458
- 2021Effects of childhood adversity on the volumes of the amygdala subnuclei and hippocampal subfields in major depressive disorderAghamohammadi-Sereshki A, Coupland N, Silverstone P, Huang Y, Hegadoren K, Carter R, Seres P, Malykhin NJournal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 46(1): E186-E195
- 2016Effects of cortisol on hippocampal subfields volumes and memory performance in healthy control subjects and patients with major depressive disorderTravis SG, Coupland NJ, Hegadoren K, Silverstone PH, Huang Y, Carter R, Fujiwara E, Seres P, Malykhin NVJournal of Affective Disorders 201: 34-41
- 2015Hippocampal neuroplasticity in major depressive disorderMalykhin NV, Coupland NJNeuroscience 309: 200-213
- 2014Dentate gyrus volume and memory performance in major depressive disorderTravis S, Coupland NJ, Silversone PH, Huang Y, Fujiwara E, Carter R, Seres P, Malykhin NVJournal of Affective Disorders 172C: 159-164
- 2013Structural Changes in Hippocampal Subfields in Major Depressive Disorder: A High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging StudyHuang Y, Coupland NJ, Lebel RM, Carter R, Seres P, Wilman AH, Malykhin NVBiological Psychiatry 74(1): 62-68
- 2011Fronto-limbic volumetric changes in major depressive disorderMalykhin NV, Carter R, Hegadoren K, Seres P, Coupland NJournal of Affective Disorders 136(3): 1104-13
- 2010Structural changes in the hippocampus in major depressive disorder: contributions of disease and treatmentMalykhin NV, Carter R, Seres P, Coupland NJournal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience 35(5): 337-43
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