Altered resting state functional connectivity patterns of the anterior prefrontal cortex in obsessive-compulsive disorder

In this study, we explored different spontaneous functional connectivity patterns between the anterior prefrontal cortex and other brain regions in nonmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder in a resting state, and examined the relationship between the abnormal spontaneous functional connectivity patterns of the anterior prefrontal cortex and clinical symptoms in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Twenty nonmedicated patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 20 sex-matched and age-matched healthy individuals underwent resting state functional MRI scanning. Compared with the healthy controls, significantly increased positive functional connectivity with the right anterior prefrontal cortex was observed in the right insula and the middle cingulate cortex in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our findings suggest that abnormal intrinsic or spontaneous functional connectivity in the cognitive control system in a resting state may underlie the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder.