neural explanations

• what is a neurochemical?

  chemicals in the brain
• what is neuroanatomy?

  difference in structure, function, shape and size of the brain
• what are neural explanations?

  the genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of neurotransmitters as well as structures in the brain
• dopamine and serotonin

  • serotonin regulates mood and lower levels of serotonin are associated with the disorder (caused by SERT gene)
  • transportation issues cause lower levels of serotonin to be active within the brain
  • higher levels of dopamine have been associated with some of the symptoms of OCD, the compulsive behaviours in particular
• brain structure

  • several regions of the frontal lobes of the brain have abnormal brain circuits in patients with OCD
  • the basal ganglia is a cluster of neurons at the base of the fore brain, involved in processes such as: coordination of movement. people who suffer brain injuries in this region often develop OCD like symptoms
  • the orbitofrontal cortex is a region which converts sensory info into thoughts and actions.
  • hightened activity in the orbifrontal cortex increases the conversion of sensory info to actions, resulting in compulsions
• what is a limitation of neural explanations?

  • environmental factors can trigger or increase the risk of developing OCD (diathesis-stress model)
  • Cromer (2007) found that over half the OCD sample investigated had a traumatic event in their past and that OCD was more severe in those with more than one trauma
  • this suggests that OCD cannot be entirely due to neural factors, it may be more productive to focus on environmental causes because we are able to do something about these