A call for a mechanistic-neutral nomenclature replacing “neuromelanin-sensitive” imaging

Abstract

The locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra (SN) have attracted attention in the search for early biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. MRI methods that provide contrast in the LC and SN are commonly described as “neuromelanin-sensitive.” This terminology originated from early observations linking the MRI signal topography to apparent spatial correspondence with pigmented regions at autopsy.

However, converging evidence from MRI physics, modelling, and animal studies indicates that the observed contrast cannot be attributed specifically to neuromelanin. Instead, it reflects a complex interplay of different MRI physical properties that can yield diverse biological interpretations depending on the context, age, region, and disease. Continued use of the term therefore risks conflating MRI measurement properties with biological interpretation, leading to overattributing MRI-signal changes to neuromelanin accumulation and loss across the lifespan and with disease.

We argue that the term “neuromelanin-sensitive” should be abandoned, and propose instead a descriptive reporting framework with terminology that separates acquisition (“type”), the visible signal (“contrast”), quantification (“derivative”), and biological interpretation (“inference”). This new approach will improve interpretability, comparability, and conceptual rigor in locus coeruleus and substantia nigra research.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@misc{jacobs2026call,
  title = {{A call for a mechanistic-neutral nomenclature replacing “neuromelanin-sensitive” imaging}},
  author = {Heidi I. L. Jacobs and Dorothea Hämmerer and Mara Mather and Benedikt A Poser and James Rowe},
  howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.31234/osf.io/94h6n_v1},
  url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/94h6n_v1/},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - UNPB
TI  - A call for a mechanistic-neutral nomenclature replacing “neuromelanin-sensitive” imaging
AU  - Heidi I. L. Jacobs
AU  - Dorothea Hämmerer
AU  - Mara Mather
AU  - Benedikt A Poser
AU  - James Rowe
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/09
PB  - PsyArXiv
DO  - 10.31234/osf.io/94h6n_v1
UR  - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/94h6n_v1/
AB  - The locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra (SN) have attracted attention in the search for early biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. MRI methods that provide contrast in the LC and SN are commonly described as “neuromelanin-sensitive.” This terminology originated from early observations linking the MRI signal topography to apparent spatial correspondence with pigmented regions at autopsy.  However, converging evidence from MRI physics, modelling, and animal studies indicates that the observed contrast cannot be attributed specifically to neuromelanin. Instead, it reflects a complex interplay of different MRI physical properties that can yield diverse biological interpretations depending on the context, age, region, and disease. Continued use of the term therefore risks conflating MRI measurement properties with biological interpretation, leading to overattributing MRI-signal changes to neuromelanin accumulation and loss across the lifespan and with disease.  We argue that the term “neuromelanin-sensitive” should be abandoned, and propose instead a descriptive reporting framework with terminology that separates acquisition (“type”), the visible signal (“contrast”), quantification (“derivative”), and biological interpretation (“inference”). This new approach will improve interpretability, comparability, and conceptual rigor in locus coeruleus and substantia nigra research.
ER  -

Abstract

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