Explaining OCD Neural

Question 1

What is the role of Serotonin?

Answer 1

• Serotonin is believed to regulate mood, so a lack of serotonin is thought to create an abnormal transmission of mood relevant information.

Question 2

What area of the brain functions abnormally in OCD and what is it supposed to do?

Answer 2

• The Parahippocampal gyrus and it is associated with processing unpleasant emotions

Question 3

What does the neural explanation of OCD suggest?

Answer 3

• That the neurotransmitters/ brain structures function abnormally

Question 4

Why do people with OCD struggle with Decision making?

Answer 4

• Lateral frontal lobed impaired, responsible for logical thinking and making decisions

Question 5

What research is there to support the neural explanation of OCD?

Answer 5

• Research Support. Antidepressants that work on the serotonin system alleviate OCD (proves the link between serotonin and OCD).
• Other conditions that are known to be biological in origin(e.g Parkinson’s) have similar symptoms to OCD (Nestadt, 2007) showing that it must be biological in origin

Question 6

What is a limitation of the Neural Explanation of OCD?

Answer 6

• No unique neural system. The apparent serotonin-OCD link may just be co-morbidity with depression - the depression disrupts serotonin