The neuralexplanation explains OCD through faulty neural pathways in the brain called the worry circuit
Orbitofrontal Cortex
Processes sensory information and makes decisions
In someone with OCD this is overactive
Caudate Nucleus
Removes / filters unwanted thoughts
Brake pedal - stops escalating thoughts
Sends signals to the Thalamus
This is ineffective or underactive in someone with OCD
Thalamus
Decides what attention should be paid to certain tasks
This is overactive in someone with OCD
Basal Ganglia
Controls movement - link to OCD through compulsive repetitive behaviour
Where are the Caudate Nucleus and the Thalamus found?
In the basal ganglia
In someone with OCD this worry circuit does not properly function and so the signal sent from the Caudate Nucleus is not suppressed or stopped leading to the compulsive behaviour and attention being drawn to the specific thing
