Study Pinpoints Brain Regions Linked to OCD, Informing Potential Treatments

Researchers at Brown University identify specific brain activity patterns in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, opening new avenues for personalized TMS therapy.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:31pm

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Researchers at Brown University have identified specific brain regions that exhibit heightened activity in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during challenging cognitive tasks. This breakthrough, published in Imaging Neuroscience, offers a promising avenue for refining both the treatment and assessment of this prevalent psychiatric condition.

Why it matters

The study's findings suggest that difficulties with 'abstract sequential behavior' - the ability to perform tasks that follow a general order - may be central to OCD symptoms. This provides a new neurological basis for understanding the condition beyond just behavioral symptoms, potentially leading to more targeted interventions like personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols.

The details

The study, led by Hannah Doyle and conducted in the lab of Theresa Desrochers, had participants - including individuals diagnosed with OCD and a control group - perform a sequential task while undergoing MRI scans. While both groups performed the task with similar accuracy, the MRI scans revealed significant differences in brain activity. Individuals with OCD demonstrated increased activity in brain regions associated with motor control, cognitive task management, working memory and object recognition.

  • The study was published in Imaging Neuroscience in February 2026.

The players

Hannah Doyle

The lead researcher on the study, which was conducted in the lab of Theresa Desrochers at Brown University.

Theresa Desrochers

A researcher at Brown University who studies abstract sequential behavior and has published extensively on the topic.

Nicole McLaughlin

A study co-author who believes the findings could pave the way for more targeted OCD treatments, particularly using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

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What they’re saying

“We started looking into OCD because symptoms of the condition suggest that patients lose track or get stuck where they are while performing sequences.”

— Hannah Doyle, Lead Researcher

“Their behavior looked similar, but the brains of the participants with OCD recruited more brain regions than the people in the control group.”

— Hannah Doyle, Lead Researcher

What’s next

Study co-author Nicole McLaughlin believes these findings could pave the way for more targeted treatments, particularly using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Approved by the FDA in 2018 for OCD treatment, TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific brain regions. The identification of these newly implicated areas could refine TMS protocols, potentially improving outcomes for a significant portion of OCD patients.

The takeaway

This study represents a shift towards a more nuanced understanding of OCD, moving beyond simply addressing symptoms to targeting the underlying cognitive processes. The findings could lead to personalized TMS protocols, the integration of cognitive training, the discovery of biomarkers to predict treatment response, and earlier intervention strategies to prevent OCD from becoming debilitating.