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Inhibition of return in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Debbie Rankins1, John Bradshaw, Simon Moss
1School of Humanities and Social Science, Northern Territory University, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia. rankinsd@murdoch.rch.unimelb.edu.au
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|January 31, 2004
Summary
This study found that individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibit impaired inhibition of return (IOR), a visual attention mechanism. This deficit, particularly in the left visual field, suggests lateralized attention anomalies in OCD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves repetitive behaviors potentially linked to attentional deficits.
- Inhibition of return (IOR) is a visual attention mechanism that guides search by disengaging attention from recently inspected locations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if deficits in inhibition of return (IOR) contribute to attentional and behavioral problems in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Main Methods:
- A computerized inhibition of return (IOR) paradigm was employed.
- Participants responded to visual targets following precues at varying stimulus-onset asynchronies (100 ms and 700 ms).
- Target locations were either the same or different from the precue location.
Main Results:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients demonstrated a reduced inhibition of return (IOR) effect.
- This reduction was specifically observed for targets presented in the left visual field.
- Findings suggest lateralized anomalies in attentional shifting in OCD patients.
Conclusions:
- Deficient inhibition of return (IOR) mechanisms may underlie attentional deficits in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
- The results support previous reports of lateralization anomalies in the neurobiology of OCD.
- These findings contribute to understanding the cognitive underpinnings of OCD symptoms.