A new study from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is changing the way scientists think about compulsive behaviors. These are behaviors that people repeat again and again, even when they know it might cause harm.
They are common in conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), drug addiction, and gambling problems, and they affect millions of people around the world.
For a long time, experts believed that compulsive behaviors happened because people got stuck in a habit loop. This means they were thought to be acting without thinking, like being on autopilot. These habits were seen as too strong to break, making it hard for people to take back control of their actions.
But this new study, done with rats, suggests a very different idea. Instead of showing that habits become stronger, the research found that inflammation in a part of the brain called the striatum actually made the rats act with more thought and control, not less.
Dr. Laura Bradfield, a behavioral neuroscientist and senior author of the study, explained how habits usually help us. For example, when we brush our teeth or drive a familiar route, we don’t need to think too much.
This helps us save mental energy for other things. But when something unexpected happens, like a child running into the road, we quickly shift from habit to full awareness, thinking about what to do next.
In compulsive behavior, such as repeated hand washing or gambling, scientists have believed that people were stuck in habits and unable to switch back to thoughtful control. But this study, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, shows that the story might be more complex.
The researchers, led by Dr. Arvie Abiero as part of his PhD work, looked at what happened when they caused brain inflammation in rats. The inflammation was in the striatum, the brain area involved in choosing actions.
They thought this would increase habit-based behavior. But instead, the rats acted in a more deliberate way. They kept adjusting their actions based on what happened, even when habits should have taken over.
This was a surprise. Instead of becoming more automatic, the rats became more goal-directed. The results suggest that in some people, compulsive behaviors may not be mindless habits at all. Instead, they may come from too much conscious effort, just not the right kind.
For example, someone who constantly washes their hands may be doing it not because it’s automatic, but because they are very worried about germs. They are making an effort—they are choosing to do it repeatedly, even though it’s not helping them feel better.
These findings open new doors for treating compulsive disorders. Current treatments often focus on breaking habits. But if some compulsive behaviors are driven by too much deliberate control, we might need different solutions.
One idea is to reduce inflammation in the brain using special drugs. Other options could include lifestyle changes like better sleep, exercise, or stress reduction, which may help reduce inflammation naturally.
Dr. Bradfield says this study offers a new explanation for compulsive behaviors. It challenges the long-held idea that people with these disorders simply can’t stop acting out habits. Instead, they may be overthinking and over-controlling their behavior, just in a way that doesn’t help.
Understanding this difference could lead to better treatments and support for people with these conditions, helping them regain control over their lives in a healthier and more effective way.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about cannabis use disorder linked to increased risk of mental diseases and some mental health drugs can cause rapid weight gain.
For more health information, please read studies that one sleepless night can reverse depression for days and scientists find better treatment for older adults with depression.
The study is published in Neuropsychopharmacology.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
