Investigation of neural basis of habit perseveration in OCD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How habits become compulsions? Exploring the neural basis of habit perseveration in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
IRAS ID
208351
Contact name
Amy Milton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an extremely disabling psychiatric illness, with enormous socio-economic burden. Intrusive thoughts and compulsive stereotyped behaviours are the most prominent symptoms. A novel neurobiological account of OCD (the habit model) has recently emerged, proposing that compulsions might result from a disruption in the balance between two distinct but interactive brain systems: the goal directed system, which supports behaviours that are intentional and sensitive to goal value and the habitual system, which underlies more automatic actions. This imbalance favours the habitual system, hence OCD has been characterised as a disorder of maladaptive habit learning. Although promising, the habit model needs further testing. First, the mechanism by which habits become compulsions have yet to be specified. Second, because of their theoretical need for extended training, habits are difficult to measure directly in OCD. Through exploring the power of smart phones, this research proposal aims to overcome these limitations by creating real habits in the laboratory to directly investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the transition from habits to compulsions. We plan to use functional and resting state magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to test the hypothesis that the cortico-striatal imbalance underpinning habit-based responding dominance in behavioural performance is driven by a frontal functional and neurochemical dyscontrol. This research is crucial for further understanding of the neural basis of compulsions and for the development of new therapeutical approaches to help patients flexibly adjust their behaviour and thus resist compulsions.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0465
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion