New research suggests that compulsive behavior may be less about willpower failure and more about inflammation quietly disrupting the brain’s reward and habit circuits. While the idea of “hidden brain ...

For years, compulsive behaviors have been viewed as bad habits stuck on autopilot. But new research in rats found the opposite: inflammation in a key decision-making brain region actually made ...

The “Uncertainty” Mechanism: Compulsive traits are linked to a specific decision-making strategy where habits are favored because the individual feels less certain about the consequences of long-term ...

Compulsive traits are tendencies to repeat patterned behaviors. They are often seen in psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), addiction and eating disorders. However, ...

Experiencing multiple childhood traumas doesn't just increase the risk of a single addiction. A new study suggests it creates ...