GlossaryFronto-striatal connectivity

Fronto-striatal connectivity

Functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the striatum. Abnormally elevated in OCD, contributing to the locked feedback loop of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. The Yale Phase 2 OCD trial (NCT05546658) uses fMRI to measure whether psilocybin normalises fronto-striatal connectivity at 48 hours post-dosing — providing the first neural biomarker evidence for psilocybin's mechanism in OCD.

Full Explanation

Fronto-striatal connectivity is the functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the striatum. Abnormally elevated in OCD, it contributes to the locked feedback loop of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. The Yale Phase 2 OCD trial (NCT05546658) uses fMRI to measure whether psilocybin normalises fronto-striatal connectivity at 48 hours post-dosing — providing the first neural biomarker evidence for psilocybin's mechanism in OCD.

See: OCD (/conditions/ocd).

Why It Matters

Fronto-striatal connectivity is the leading neural target for understanding how psilocybin might help OCD, and is being tested directly in current trials.

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