The neurobiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder is still not fully understood myworldnews24, but current perspectives suggest that there are problems with the communication between three brain areas: the cortex, striatum, and thalamus. These areas are involved in initiation and termination of behavior. In OCD, this imbalance between the three regions may result in repetitive thought loops. Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, may also play a role in the development of this condition onlinewebworld24.
The brain has a region known as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) that regulates impulses and inhibition. When this area is damaged, it causes an individual to act excessively and obsess over seemingly insignificant events . The OFC also interacts with the amygdala, which controls bodily changes associated with emotion. People with OCD have damaged portions of this brain region, which trigger compulsive behaviors taraftarium24.
Neuroimaging studies have also revealed changes in brain structure. In particular, OCD patients showed decreased fractional anisotropy (a measure of fiber density), decreased axonal diameter (axonal diameter), and reduced myelination (the amount of myelin found in brain areas). Researchers have shown that these changes in brain structure correlate with the presence of OCD symptoms, suggesting that OCD is a neuropsychological conditionhqlinks.
Although there are no known neurobiological causes of OCD, this new research may help guide future treatment of this disorder. By analyzing brain scans of hundreds of people suffering from OCD, researchers have pinpointed specific areas of the brain involved in repetitive behaviors. The findings are important because they help us better understand why these behaviors continue and how to break the cycle apninews5896.