Characterizing abnormalities in the OCD neural network

项目摘要 强迫症（OCD）影响2-3%的人口，其特征在于强迫性， 强迫性思维和强迫性行为，干扰人际关系和职业功能， 有时甚至到了严重的程度。鉴于迫切需要强迫症的生物标志物来告知潜在的 神经生物学过程并为治疗选择提供目标，满足这一需求的一种方法是 强迫症患者神经网络特异性功能和结构异常鉴定 与疾病有关。我们的首要假设是，有一个神经网络， 强迫症，这可能与过度仪式化行为的发展有关， 描述疾病。这个神经网络包括背侧前扣带皮层，眶额皮层， 腹外侧前额叶皮层、背外侧前额叶皮层、腹内侧前额叶皮层、杏仁核和 背侧纹状体因此，该拟建中心的项目2（P2）的总体目标是确定关键休息 状态功能连接异常，以及潜在白色异常，在这个电路中， 成人强迫症我们将使用功能磁共振成像来检查这些区域之间的静息状态连接， 成像和概率纤维束成像检查连接这些区域的纤维束中的白色物质， 强迫症患者。我们将使用最先进的匀场例程来优化信号：噪声比， 在这个神经网络中。因此，P2旨在检查40例未给药/SRI/氯丙咪嗪给药的患者 成人强迫症与40名健康成人（年龄18-35岁）：1.休眠状态连接，以提供 测量这些区域之间的“紧张”功能连接。2.这些之间的白色物质连通性 地区3.我们还将确定这些静息状态连接性指标之间的关系， 神经网络中的白色物质，以更好地了解结构和功能之间的整合 这个网络中的连接。P2与中心的其他项目一起，将告知对 功能和白色物质连接异常，在上述神经网络的强迫症，并将提供 神经生物学措施，最终为疾病的治疗选择和新的治疗提供信息。

Project Summary Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2-3% of the population and is characterized by obsessional, obtrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, that interfere with interpersonal and occupational function, sometimes to a severe extent. Given the critical need for biomarkers of OCD to inform underlying neurobiological processes and provide targets for treatment choices, one way forward to meet this need is to identify in individuals with OCD specific functional and structural abnormalities in neural networks putatively associated with the illness. Our overarching hypothesis is that there is a neural network that is dysfunctional in OCD, and that this may be associated with development of the excessive ritualized behaviors that characterize the illness. This neural network includes dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, amygdala and dorsal striatum. The overarching goal of Project 2 (P2) in this proposed center is thus to identify key resting state functional connectivity abnormalities, and abnormalities in underlying white matter, in this circuitry in adults with OCD. We will use fMRI to examine resting state connectivity among these regions, and diffusion imaging and probabilistic tractography to examine white matter in tracts connecting these regions in individuals with OCD. We will use state of the art shimming routines to optimize the signal: noise ratio in regions in this neural network. P2 thereby aims to examine in 40 unmedicated/SRI/clomipramine medicated adults with OCD versus 40 healthy adults (aged 18-35 years): 1. Resting state connectivity, to provide a measure of “tonic” functional connectivity among these regions. 2. White matter connectivity among these regions. 3. We will also determine relationships between these measures of resting state connectivity and white matter in the neural network to better understand the integration between structural and functional connections in this network. P2, together with other projects in the center, will inform understanding of functional and white matter connection abnormalities in the above neural network in OCD, and will provide neurobiological measures to ultimately inform treatment choice and novel treatments for the illness.