Lesson 6: Managing Cravings And Urges - Slide 9
Obsessive Thoughts Result From A Biochemical Problem In The Brain
- The brain starts sending false messages that the person cannot readily recognize as false
- A main signal-processing center in the brain has 2 structures:
- Caudate nucleus: processes thoughts
- Putamen: processes body movement signals
- The caudate works with the putamen to coordinate thought and movement
- The caudate can get stuck and tell you to repeat the same action over and over again even though there is no benefit
- It can’t change to the next thought
Notes:
Pg. xiv-xvi, Schwartz, Jeffrey, M., 1996, “Brain Lock, Free Yourself From Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior, A Four-Step Self-Treatment Method To Change Your Brain Chemistry,” Regan Books/Harper Collins Publishers, New York.