Latest

OCD

·March 16, 2026·7 min read

Acetylcholine Seizes Control of Serotonin Signaling

New research reveals how acetylcholine hijacks the serotonin system, potentially causing the chemical "overdrive" seen in OCD and depression.

This shows the outline of a person's head.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 5, 2026·9 min read

Compulsivity is Driven by a Fear of the Unknown

Scientists discover that people with compulsive traits rely on repetitive behaviors because they feel less certain about how their future actions will play out.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 21, 2026·9 min read

OCD Brains Work Harder to Stay on Track

It’s not just a repetitive thought—it’s a brain working overtime. New research shows why the OCD brain recruits extra regions just to keep track of daily sequences.

This shows a diagram of a brain with the areas identified as part of the compulsion network highlighted.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 14, 2026·6 min read

Brain Signal Linked to OCD Compulsions Identified

A newly identified high-frequency brain signal in the frontal cortex appears to drive compulsive behaviors in OCD. In three severe cases, briefly disrupting this activity through targeted deep brain stimulation rapidly reduced symptoms, offering hope for more precise and responsive treatments.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 21, 2025·5 min read

Brain Circuit That Forces Behavior Into “Repeat Mode” Identified

A new study has identified a specific brain circuit that can push behavior into a compulsive “repeat mode,” forcing mice to continue digging and sniffing even when rewards are available. The circuit links the nucleus accumbens to the hypothalamus and then to the lateral habenula, a region involved in processing negative experiences.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·November 5, 2025·7 min read

Oxidative Stress May Drive Repetitive Behaviors Linked to Autism, OCD

A new study shows that oxidative stress—an imbalance between damaging molecules and antioxidants—may contribute to repetitive behaviors observed in mice, similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Researchers found that higher levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, including glutathione and specific proteins, were linked to more severe stereotypies in young mice.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·June 18, 2025·6 min read

New Genetic Link to OCD Found

Summary: In a groundbreaking study, researchers have linked rare “de novo” genetic mutations—copy number variants (CNVs)—to pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)....

Neuroscience

·June 7, 2025·6 min read

Symptom Provocation Boosts Brain Stimulation Effectiveness

A new meta-analysis suggests that provoking symptoms just before delivering repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve clinical outcomes for OCD and nicotine dependence. Researchers examined data from multiple studies and found that rTMS was nearly twice as effective when paired with targeted symptom provocation.

This shows the outline of a person and neurons.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 19, 2025·4 min read

Inflammation Triggers Repetitive Behaviors in ASD and OCD

New research reveals that chronic brain inflammation can directly lead to repetitive behaviors, often seen in conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In mice with a mutated NLRP3 gene, inflammation activated microglia to release IL-1β, overstimulating NMDA glutamate receptors responsible for excitatory brain signals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 12, 2025·5 min read

Why OCD, Tics, and ADHD Keep You Up at Night

People with obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), chronic tic disorders (CTDs), and ADHD often suffer from significant sleep disturbances, and a new review suggests that disruptions in the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) pathway may be the reason why. The review highlights how dopamine and GABA dysregulation in CSTC circuitry contributes to both poor sleep and the disorders themselves, suggesting a bidirectional and additive relationship.

This shows a model of a head and neurons.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 13, 2024·8 min read

Neural Biomarker for OCD Identified

Researchers discovered a neural activity pattern that can accurately predict and monitor the clinical status of OCD patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS). The study highlights how this biomarker can guide DBS therapy, improving treatment outcomes for those with severe, treatment-resistant OCD.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·March 4, 2024·4 min read

Astrocytes Play Critical Role in Regulating Behavior

Researchers made a groundbreaking discovery in identifying a unique group of astrocytes, located in the brain's central striatum, that play a crucial role in regulating behaviors linked to neuropsychiatric disorders. This distinct subset of astrocytes expresses the gene Crym, coding for μ-crystallin, a protein associated with various human diseases.

1 2 3 … 12

OCD

Acetylcholine Seizes Control of Serotonin Signaling

Compulsivity is Driven by a Fear of the Unknown

OCD Brains Work Harder to Stay on Track

Brain Signal Linked to OCD Compulsions Identified

Brain Circuit That Forces Behavior Into “Repeat Mode” Identified

Oxidative Stress May Drive Repetitive Behaviors Linked to Autism, OCD

New Genetic Link to OCD Found

Symptom Provocation Boosts Brain Stimulation Effectiveness

Inflammation Triggers Repetitive Behaviors in ASD and OCD

Why OCD, Tics, and ADHD Keep You Up at Night

Neural Biomarker for OCD Identified

Astrocytes Play Critical Role in Regulating Behavior

RNA Recycling Extends Lifespan

How Type 1 Diabetes Impacts Dementia Risk

Evolution of Fear: Ancestral vs. Modern Threats

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Opioid Addictions Share Genetic Roots

Subscribe