Study Reveals Brain Regions Linked to OCD, Guiding Future Therapies

Researchers find differences in how brain areas work together during cognitive tasks in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 2:55am

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A new study by researchers at Brown University's Carney Institute for Brain Science has revealed that certain brain regions are more active in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during cognitively demanding tasks. The findings could help inform new ways to treat and assess the condition, including through the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy.

Why it matters

The study provides new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying OCD, a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive thoughts and associated compulsive actions. Understanding the specific brain regions involved could lead to more targeted and effective treatments for OCD patients.

The details

The researchers asked participants to perform a sequential cognitive task while in an MRI scanner, naming the color or shape of an object in a specific order. They found that while individuals with OCD were able to perform the sequence as well as the control group, the MRI scans revealed differences in brain regions connected to motor and cognitive task control, working memory, and object recognition. Some of these regions, such as the middle temporal gyrus and an area spanning the occipital gyrus and temporo-occipital junction, had not previously been linked to OCD.

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

The players

Theresa Desrochers

An associate professor of brain science and of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University's Carney Institute for Brain Science, who studies abstract sequential behavior.

Hannah Doyle

The lead study author and a postdoctoral research associate in Desrochers' lab.

Nicole McLaughlin

An associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown and a neuropsychologist at Butler Hospital, who co-authored the study.

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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, Postdoctoral research associate

“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, Postdoctoral research associate

“The findings may lead to new treatment targets for OCD, especially when involving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is a therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain regions implicated in a psychiatric disorder.”

— Nicole McLaughlin, Associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior

What’s next

Researchers plan to further investigate the specific brain regions and neural mechanisms involved in OCD, with the goal of developing more targeted and effective treatments for the disorder.

The takeaway

This study provides valuable insights into the neural underpinnings of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which could lead to advancements in how the condition is assessed and treated, including through the use of emerging therapies like transcranial magnetic stimulation.