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trichotillomania

This illustration shows a woman pulling at her hair with a brain and the NAc highlighted. The dopamine structure is in the background.

·August 16, 2025·5 min read

Dopamine Imbalance in the Brain May Drive Trichotillomania

A new study using SAPAP3 knockout mice sheds light on the brain mechanisms that may drive trichotillomania, or hair-pulling disorder. These mice displayed compulsive grooming, heightened aggression, and stress-sensitive behaviors, mirroring human TTM traits—particularly in females.

This shows one of the student developers wearing the glove

Featured Neuroscience Neuroscience Videos Psychology

·May 3, 2021·3 min read

Help May Be at Hand for Hair-Pulling

Help may be at hand to assist those with trichotillomania from pulling their hair. A new glove sensor has been developed by students that tracks hand motion and flexing, relaying the information to a smartphone app. The glove is able to sense when a hair has been pulled.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·October 22, 2019·4 min read

A link between unique brain cells and OCD and anxiety

Mice with dysfunctional Hoxb8-lineage microglia exhibited excessive overgrooming behaviors that resemble trichotillomania in humans. Female sex hormones also caused more severe OCD-like behaviors and increased anxiety in the mouse models.