4.6.2 Neural Explanations

• What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

  Persistent thoughts and behaviors
• Overactivity in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may lead to obsessions
• Lower levels of serotonin are associated with increased OCD symptoms.
• What does the biological approach suggest about the causes of OCD?

  Neural explanations
• Match the neural component with its role in OCD:

  Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) ↔️ Overactivity leads to obsessions

  Caudate Nucleus ↔️ Impaired function affects compulsion suppression

  Serotonin ↔️ Lower levels increase OCD symptoms
• Overactivity in the Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) leads to persistent and intrusive thoughts
• Lower levels of serotonin have been linked to increased severity of OCD symptoms.
• What are the two main features of OCD?

  Obsessions and compulsions
• Overactivity in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may lead to obsessions
• Serotonin deficiency is associated with increased OCD symptoms.
• What does the neural explanation of OCD focus on?

  Brain structures and neurotransmitters
• Overactivity in the Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) may lead to obsessions
• Serotonin deficiency is linked to higher OCD symptom severity.
• Arrange the neurotransmitters in order of their primary role in OCD symptoms, from most to least direct involvement:

  1️⃣ Serotonin

  2️⃣ Dopamine

  3️⃣ Glutamate
• What is the role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in OCD?

  Overactivity leads to obsessions
• Impaired function of the caudate nucleus affects the ability to suppress compulsions
• ACC hyperactivity exacerbates feelings of unease when tasks are not completed perfectly.
• The orbitofrontal cortex in OCD is characterized by overactivity
• Impaired function of the caudate nucleus in OCD hinders the suppression of compulsive behaviors.
• Hyperactivity of the anterior cingulate cortex in OCD heightens error detection and anxiety
• What does overactivity of the OFC in OCD generate?

  Obsessions
• Caudate nucleus dysfunction in OCD fails to block repetitive behaviors that attempt to alleviate obsessions.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts called obsessions
• What does the biological approach suggest about the cause of OCD?

  Neural explanations
• Lower levels of serotonin are associated with increased OCD symptoms.
• Overactivity in the Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) leads to intrusive thoughts
• Impaired function of the caudate nucleus results in the failure to suppress compulsive behaviors.
• Lower levels of serotonin are associated with increased OCD symptoms.
• Match the neural component with its role in OCD:

  Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) ↔️ Overactivity leads to obsessions

  Caudate Nucleus ↔️ Impaired function suppresses compulsions

  Serotonin ↔️ Lower levels increase symptoms
• Steps in the neural process of OCD based on neural explanations:

  1️⃣ OFC overactivity

  2️⃣ Intrusive thoughts (obsessions)

  3️⃣ Impaired caudate nucleus

  4️⃣ Failure to suppress compulsions

  5️⃣ Serotonin deficiency

  6️⃣ Increased OCD severity
• Impaired function of the caudate nucleus directly leads to obsessions.

  False
• Serotonin deficiency is linked to increased severity of OCD symptoms.
• Match the neural component with its role in OCD:

  Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC) ↔️ Overactivity leads to obsessions

  Caudate Nucleus ↔️ Impaired function suppresses compulsions

  Serotonin ↔️ Lower levels increase symptoms
• OFC overactivity is a primary cause of obsessions in OCD.
• Lower levels of serotonin are associated with increased severity of OCD symptoms.
• Match the neurotransmitter with its role in OCD:

  Serotonin ↔️ Regulates thought processes

  Dopamine ↔️ Contributes to compulsions

  Glutamate ↔️ Overstimulates brain circuits
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective in treating OCD by increasing serotonin levels.
• Increased dopamine levels may contribute to compulsive behaviors in OCD.
• Elevated glutamate levels may lead to overstimulation of brain circuits involved in habit formation.
• Arrange the brain structures based on their primary role in OCD:

  1️⃣ Orbitofrontal Cortex (OFC)

  2️⃣ Caudate Nucleus

  3️⃣ Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)