The biological explanation of OCD
- Neural explanations look at differences in brain structure and function and
brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) between people with OCD and others.
- Genetic explanations look at heredity (how OCD runs in families) and what
specific genes are involved.
BRAIN AREAS
- OCD is associated with dysfunction in a particular brain circuit, known as
the ‘worry circuit’.
- ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX - at the front of the cortex, this area is
responsible for high-level aspects of decision making. It generates
signals about dangers in the environment, and errors that you have
made.
- BASAL GANGLIA - in the midbrain, this is a set of structures that form
neural loops with cortical areas.
- The CAUDATE NUCLEUS is a part of the basal ganglia that seems to be
involved in suppressing the urge to act on a worry, and is suspected to
be dysfunctional in OCD.
- THALAMUS - responsible for relaying information between the brain
and the body.
Neurotransmitters
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that can either
increase (excite) or decrease (inhibit) the electrical activity of the brain.
- DOPAMINE is an excitatory neurotransmitter that may be overactive in
the basal ganglia of people with OCD.
- SEROTONIN is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that may be decreased in
the prefrontal cortex of OCD patients, leading to overactivity in this area.
- Neural explanations look at differences in brain structure and function and
brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) between people with OCD and others.
- Genetic explanations look at heredity (how OCD runs in families) and what
specific genes are involved.
BRAIN AREAS
- OCD is associated with dysfunction in a particular brain circuit, known as
the ‘worry circuit’.
- ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX - at the front of the cortex, this area is
responsible for high-level aspects of decision making. It generates
signals about dangers in the environment, and errors that you have
made.
- BASAL GANGLIA - in the midbrain, this is a set of structures that form
neural loops with cortical areas.
- The CAUDATE NUCLEUS is a part of the basal ganglia that seems to be
involved in suppressing the urge to act on a worry, and is suspected to
be dysfunctional in OCD.
- THALAMUS - responsible for relaying information between the brain
and the body.
Neurotransmitters
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain that can either
increase (excite) or decrease (inhibit) the electrical activity of the brain.
- DOPAMINE is an excitatory neurotransmitter that may be overactive in
the basal ganglia of people with OCD.
- SEROTONIN is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that may be decreased in
the prefrontal cortex of OCD patients, leading to overactivity in this area.
