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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
10:51
Real-time fMRI Biofeedback Targeting the Orbitofrontal Cortex for Contamination Anxiety
Published on: January 20, 2012
Squalor syndrome after focal orbitofrontal damage
Michitaka Funayama1, Masaru Mimura, Yuko Koshibe
1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ashikaga Red Cross Hospital, Honjo, Ashikaga-city, Tochigi, Japan. Fimndia@aol.com
Summary
Squalor syndrome, a disorder of extreme self-neglect, may stem from damage to the orbitofrontal cortex. This brain region is crucial for decision-making and impulse control, suggesting a potential neurological basis for the condition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Neurology
- Neuropsychology
Background:
- Squalor syndrome is a behavioral disorder marked by extreme self-neglect and domestic squalor.
- Frontal lobe dysfunction is a suspected cause, but the specific brain region remains unclear.
Observation:
- A case study of a 49-year-old woman with a history of anterior communicating artery aneurysm rupture.
- Neuropsychological testing revealed deficits primarily in decision-making tasks (gambling task).
- Neuroimaging (CT and SPECT) showed abnormalities in the orbitofrontal cortex and basal forebrain.
Findings:
- Bilateral orbitofrontal cortex and basal forebrain lesions were identified via CT.
- Reduced regional cerebral blood flow in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortices and basal forebrain was observed via SPECT.
- Impaired performance on the gambling task suggests dysfunction in decision-making processes.
Implications:
- Orbitofrontal cortex lesions may be a key factor in the development of squalor syndrome.
- Damage to this area can lead to impaired decision-making and abnormal impulsivity.
- This research highlights a potential neurological basis for extreme self-neglect behaviors.
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