Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models
Cingulotomy is therapeutic in OCD, but what are the possible mechanisms? Computer models that formalize cortical OCD abnormalities and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function can help answer this. At the neural dynamics level, cortical dynamics in OCD have been modeled using attractor networks, whe...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2022.889831/full |
| _version_ | 1797956454821396480 |
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| author | Mohamed A. Sherif Mohamed A. Sherif Mohamed A. Sherif Aryandokht Fotros Aryandokht Fotros Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Nicole C. R. McLaughlin |
| author_facet | Mohamed A. Sherif Mohamed A. Sherif Mohamed A. Sherif Aryandokht Fotros Aryandokht Fotros Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Nicole C. R. McLaughlin |
| author_sort | Mohamed A. Sherif |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cingulotomy is therapeutic in OCD, but what are the possible mechanisms? Computer models that formalize cortical OCD abnormalities and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function can help answer this. At the neural dynamics level, cortical dynamics in OCD have been modeled using attractor networks, where activity patterns resistant to change denote the inability to switch to new patterns, which can reflect inflexible thinking patterns or behaviors. From that perspective, cingulotomy might reduce the influence of difficult-to-escape ACC attractor dynamics on other cortical areas. At the functional level, computer formulations based on model-free reinforcement learning (RL) have been used to describe the multitude of phenomena ACC is involved in, such as tracking the timing of expected outcomes and estimating the cost of exerting cognitive control and effort. Different elements of model-free RL models of ACC could be affected by the inflexible cortical dynamics, making it challenging to update their values. An agent can also use a world model, a representation of how the states of the world change, to plan its actions, through model-based RL. OCD has been hypothesized to be driven by reduced certainty of how the brain’s world model describes changes. Cingulotomy might improve such uncertainties about the world and one’s actions, making it possible to trust the outcomes of these actions more and thus reduce the urge to collect more sensory information in the form of compulsions. Connecting the neural dynamics models with the functional formulations can provide new ways of understanding the role of ACC in OCD, with potential therapeutic insights. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:49:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbecbb0187f34639b1e17218a1f8c796 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5145 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:49:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbecbb0187f34639b1e17218a1f8c7962023-01-10T20:54:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience1662-51452023-01-011610.3389/fnint.2022.889831889831Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer modelsMohamed A. Sherif0Mohamed A. Sherif1Mohamed A. Sherif2Aryandokht Fotros3Aryandokht Fotros4Benjamin D. Greenberg5Benjamin D. Greenberg6Benjamin D. Greenberg7Benjamin D. Greenberg8Nicole C. R. McLaughlin9Nicole C. R. McLaughlin10Nicole C. R. McLaughlin11Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesCarney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry Lifespan Health System, Providence, RI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesCarney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesButler Hospital, Providence, RI, United StatesUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesCarney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, United StatesButler Hospital, Providence, RI, United StatesCingulotomy is therapeutic in OCD, but what are the possible mechanisms? Computer models that formalize cortical OCD abnormalities and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function can help answer this. At the neural dynamics level, cortical dynamics in OCD have been modeled using attractor networks, where activity patterns resistant to change denote the inability to switch to new patterns, which can reflect inflexible thinking patterns or behaviors. From that perspective, cingulotomy might reduce the influence of difficult-to-escape ACC attractor dynamics on other cortical areas. At the functional level, computer formulations based on model-free reinforcement learning (RL) have been used to describe the multitude of phenomena ACC is involved in, such as tracking the timing of expected outcomes and estimating the cost of exerting cognitive control and effort. Different elements of model-free RL models of ACC could be affected by the inflexible cortical dynamics, making it challenging to update their values. An agent can also use a world model, a representation of how the states of the world change, to plan its actions, through model-based RL. OCD has been hypothesized to be driven by reduced certainty of how the brain’s world model describes changes. Cingulotomy might improve such uncertainties about the world and one’s actions, making it possible to trust the outcomes of these actions more and thus reduce the urge to collect more sensory information in the form of compulsions. Connecting the neural dynamics models with the functional formulations can provide new ways of understanding the role of ACC in OCD, with potential therapeutic insights.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2022.889831/fullcingulotomyOCDcomputer modelreinforcement learningattractor dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed A. Sherif Mohamed A. Sherif Mohamed A. Sherif Aryandokht Fotros Aryandokht Fotros Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Benjamin D. Greenberg Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Nicole C. R. McLaughlin Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience cingulotomy OCD computer model reinforcement learning attractor dynamics |
| title | Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models |
| title_full | Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models |
| title_fullStr | Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models |
| title_short | Understanding cingulotomy’s therapeutic effect in OCD through computer models |
| title_sort | understanding cingulotomy s therapeutic effect in ocd through computer models |
| topic | cingulotomy OCD computer model reinforcement learning attractor dynamics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2022.889831/full |
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