Mapping Alterations of the Functional Structure of the Cerebral Cortex in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder. (4th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pujol, Jesus; Blanco-Hinojo, Laura; Maciá, Dídac; Alonso, Pino; Harrison, Ben J; Martínez-Vilavella, Gerard; Deus, Joan; Menchón, José M; Cardoner, Narcís; Soriano-Mas, Carles
• Is Part Of: Cerebral cortex. Volume 29:Number 11(2019)
• Page Start: 4753
• Page End: 4762
• Publication Date: 2019-02-04
• Subjects: frontostriatal circuits -- functional connectivity -- inhibitory neurons -- orbitofrontal cortex -- sensory cortex; Cerebral cortex -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 612.825
• DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-3211

Abstract

Abstract: We mapped alterations of the functional structure of the cerebral cortex using a novel imaging approach in a sample of 160 obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. Whole-brain functional connectivity maps were generated using multidistance measures of intracortical neural activity coupling defined within isodistant local areas. OCD patients demonstrated neural activity desynchronization within the orbitofrontal cortex and in primary somatosensory, auditory, visual, gustatory, and olfactory areas. Symptom severity was significantly associated with the degree of functional structure alteration in OCD-relevant brain regions. By means of a novel imaging perspective, we once again identified brain alterations in the orbitofrontal cortex, involving areas purportedly implicated in the pathophysiology of OCD. However, our results also indicated that weaker intracortical activity coupling is also present in each primary sensory area. On the basis of previous neurophysiological studies, such cortical activity desynchronization may best be interpreted as reflecting deficient inhibitory neuron activity and altered sensory filtering.