New studies suggest that high-frequency electrical stimulation personalized to the activity patterns of brain networks that control reward may reduce obsessive-compulsive behavior.
In this study, high-definition transcranial exchange stimulation (HD-tACS) personalized to the unique beta-gamma frequency of the reward network was associated with reduced compulsive behavior. Participants with the most severe symptoms showed the greatest benefit.
“This result is promising because it suggests that neuromodulation may help in serious and painful clinical situations such as: Obsessive-compulsive disorder Dr. Robert Reinhardt, Principal Investigator at Boston University’s Center for Systems Neuroscience in Boston, Massachusetts, said: Medscape Medical News
The survey results are Published online January 18 Nature medicine..
Quick and robust relief
A new view is that obsessive-compulsive behavior results from maladapted habitual learning, which may be related to abnormal beta-gamma neurophysiology of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) circuit during reward processing. ..
In two experiments, researchers used HD-tACS to establish a functional contribution of OFC beta-gamma rhythm in reward learning and explore its potential in normalizing compulsive behavior.
The first experiment involving 60 volunteers demonstrated that targeting OFC with HD-tACS personalized to the unique beta-gamma frequency of the reward network “quickly” adjusts reward behavior and learning. I did.
“This observation may help us better understand the processes in the brain that cause obsessive-compulsive behavior,” Reinhardt said.
The second experiment involved 64 individuals with asymptomatic and clinically range obsessive-compulsive symptoms. In this group, beta-gamma modulation by applying HD-tACS for 30 minutes in a row for 5 consecutive days “strongly” weakened obsessive-compulsive behavior for up to 3 months.
On average, the total score for the revised Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, the most commonly used self-reporting measure in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) studies, dropped by nearly 28% over a three-month period. The greatest benefit was seen in people with more severe symptoms.
“Personalization is increasingly recognized as an important factor in improving the effectiveness of neural regulation. We propose ways to personalize the neural regulation of compulsive behavior according to individual brain activity patterns learned from rewards.” Said Reinhardt.
He said the researchers would ultimately like to explore the potential effectiveness of this approach for patients with gambling addiction, other conditions, including addiction. Substance abuse, Compulsive meals, and compulsive shopping and internet use.
“Additional research is needed to better understand the mechanisms by which this approach is used to reduce obsessive-compulsive behavior and identify the factors that can produce more powerful and lasting improvements,” he adds. I did.
“Very promising” results
Comments on the study of Medscape Medical NewsDr. Brittany Lemonda, a senior neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said, “It is very promising due to the limited treatment of severe OCD and added to the mix to improve the patient’s symptoms. Everything you can do is great. ” ..
“What really stands out to me is that the patients were alleviated for about three months, and the patients with the most severe symptoms actually showed the most powerful effects. This is usually the case for many patients. Because it is resistant to other treatments, “Lumonda, who was not involved in the study, said.
She added that patients with OCD are often taking medications that can cause adverse events. Neuromodulation is non-invasive and “there are not many side effects. This is also important.
“Since we know that the frontal striatal system is involved in OCD, it makes sense from a scientific point of view that changes to that system or interruptions in its feedback loop can help. “Le Monda said.
She also stated that Tourette’s syndrome, OCD, and attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder are thought to be associated with the same type of confusion in the frontal striatal pathway.
“Therefore, it could be used as a springboard for studying other populations,” Le Monda concludes.
The study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and a gift from an individual philanthropist awarded to Reinhardt. Investigators and Le Monda have not reported any relevant financial relationships.
Nut Med. Published online on January 18, 2021. Overview
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