An antenna element for magnetic resonance applications has at least one sub-section that extends along a section axis and is adjacent to an auxiliary circuit. The antenna element has a coupling section and an auxiliary circuit section that is inductively coupled to the sub-section via the coupling section. The auxiliary circuit section extends parallel to the sub-section at a distance from the section axis. The auxiliary circuit has controllable tuning elements therein. Depending on their control state, a radio-frequency excitation current flowing in the sub-section causes, at respectively different times, each of a leading auxiliary current, or a lagging auxiliary current, or no auxiliary current to flow in the auxiliary current section.