New research in rats has shown that inflammation in an area of the brain called the striatum, which is responsible for choosing actions, leads to compulsive behavior.[1][2] Scientists from the University of Technology Sydney have sparked a fire in this area and found that the rats' behavior did not become more automatic, but rather more deliberate and targeted.[1][2] The rats continued to adjust their behavior according to the results, even in situations where they would normally dominate by habit.[1][2] These changes are related to astrocytes, the star-shaped supporting cells of the brain, which proliferate during inflammation and disrupt nearby neural circuits that control movement and decision-making.[1][2] The study, led by Dr. Arvie Abiero and published in Neuropsychopharmacology, challenges the traditional view that compulsive behavior is just an ingrained habit without cognitive control.[1][2] Inflammation in the striatum is common in people with compulsive disorders such as OCD or addictive disorders.[1][2]