Pathology of the anterior cingulate cortex in obsessive-compulsive disorder

In this article, the characteristics of the functional activity of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), a key element of the neuroanatomical error detection system of the brain in drug-resistant forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are discussed on the basis of both original and published data. Available data indicate the presence of a functional deficit zone in the ACC during PCD. This fact suggests that the functions of the ACC in OCD patients are partially redistributed between other brain areas. Thus, in contrast to the previously accepted ideas, the target of stereotactic surgery for OCD is a pathologically altered brain region. Probably, this explains the fact that the operation does not lead to significant changes in the patient’s psyche. The pathological reorganization of the functional activity of the brain in OCD remains unclear and requires further investigation.