Brain circuit controlling compulsive behavior mapped.

The article discusses a study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden that identifies a brain circuit responsible for driving repetitive and compulsive behaviors in mice, which may enhance understanding of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and addiction. The study reveals that a neural circuit connecting the nucleus accumbens and the hypothalamus can induce a negative state, leading mice to engage in repetitive actions despite the availability of natural rewards. By utilizing optogenetics, the researchers demonstrated that activating this circuit prioritizes compulsive behaviors over functional needs, while deactivating it eliminates these behaviors. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how certain behaviors can be prioritized in the brain, even when they are not rewarding. [Extracted from the article]