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ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Structural Synaptogenesis Superior to Functional Modulation in a Pruning-Based Recurrent Network Model of OCD

Authors: Cheung, Ngo;

Structural Synaptogenesis Superior to Functional Modulation in a Pruning-Based Recurrent Network Model of OCD

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, with incomplete response to current treatments suggesting limitations in prevailing neurotransmitter-focused models. Emerging evidence implicates dysregulated synaptic pruning—mediated by microglial and complement pathways—as a core neurodevelopmental mechanism, potentially explaining persistent circuit immaturity and high relapse rates. Methods: We developed a gated recurrent unit network approximating cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical dynamics, trained on a rule-switching task sensitive to perseveration. Excessive pruning (95% sparsity, recurrent-biased) induced an OCD-like phenotype. From identical pruned baselines, three mechanistically distinct interventions were simulated: rapid gradient-guided synaptogenesis (ketamine-like), prolonged low-learning-rate adaptation with noise annealing (SSRI-like), and tonic inhibitory scaling (neurosteroid-like). An iso-dose pipeline equated network alteration via L1 weight change norms, with parameter sweeps enabling fair cross-mechanism comparison of acute efficacy and relapse vulnerability (secondary pruning). Results: Pruning alone produced marked rigidity (perseverative errors ~0.73). Ketamine-like structural repair dramatically reduced perseveration (~0.23) and restored accuracy, with moderate relapse resistance. SSRI- and neurosteroid-like functional modulations yielded milder, more reversible gains. At matched doses, ketamine-like intervention consistently outperformed others in acute symptom reduction and durability, with highest efficiency at lower doses. Conclusions: These findings support excessive synaptic pruning as a primary driver of OCD-related cognitive inflexibility and demonstrate that treatments promoting structural synaptogenesis offer inherent advantages over functional approaches. The iso-dose framework provides a novel tool for mechanistic therapy ranking, with implications for prioritizing rapid plastogens in clinical guidelines and personalizing care via pruning-related biomarkers.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average