Abstract
ObjectiveDecreased homotopic connectivity of brain networks such as the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits may contribute to the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, little is known about interhemispheric functional connectivity (FC) at rest in OCD. In this study, the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) method was applied to explore interhemispheric coordination at rest in OCD.MethodsForty medication-free patients with OCD and 38 sex-, age-, and education level-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The VMHC and support vector machine (SVM) methods were used to analyze the data.ResultsPatients with OCD had remarkably decreased VMHC values in the orbitofrontal cortex, thalamus, middle occipital gyrus, and precentral and postcentral gyri compared with HCs. A combination of the VMHC values in the thalamus and postcentral gyrus could optimally distinguish patients with OCD from HCs.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the contribution of decreased interhemispheric FC within and outside the CSTC circuits in OCD and provide evidence to the pathophysiology of OCD.
Highlights
The features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are persistent and intrusive thoughts, impulses, images, and repetitive behaviors [1]
Patients with OCD had remarkably decreased voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) values in the orbitofrontal cortex, thalamus, middle occipital gyrus, and precentral and postcentral gyri compared with healthy controls (HCs)
Our findings highlight the contribution of decreased interhemispheric functional connectivity (FC) within and outside the CSTC circuits in OCD and provide evidence to the pathophysiology of OCD
Summary
The features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are persistent and intrusive thoughts, impulses, images, and repetitive behaviors [1]. This chronic neuropsychiatric disorder has a lifetime prevalence of 2% to 3% [2]. The involvement of structural and functional abnormalities in the areas of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuits, which include the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, striatum, and thalamus, is among the most examined networks in OCD [3,4,5]. Other brain regions outside the CSTC circuits, such as the occipital, parietal, and cerebellar cortices, are involved in OCD [6,7,8]
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