The neurobiology of repetitive behavior: Of mice

• Published in: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 345 - 355
• Main Authors: Langen, Marieke, Kas, Martien J.H., Staal, Wouter G., van Engeland, Herman, Durston, Sarah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Autistic Disorder; Basal ganglia; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiopathology; Corticostriatal circuitry; Disease Models, Animal; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Mice; Neural Pathways - pathology; Neurobiology; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Repetitive behavior; Stereotyped Behavior - physiology; Stereotypy; Striatum; Translational Medical Research; Striatum; Basal ganglia; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Stereotypy; Repetitive behavior; Corticostriatal circuitry; Central nervous system; Corpus striatum; Basal ganglion; Review; Encephalon
• ISSN: 0149-7634; 1873-7528
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.02.004

Repetitive and stereotyped behavior is a prominent element of both animal and human behavior. Similar behavior is seen across species, in diverse neuropsychiatric disorders and in key phases of typical development. This raises the question whether these similar classes of behavior are caused by similar neurobiological mechanisms or whether they are neurobiologically unique? In this paper we discuss fundamental animal research and translational models. Imbalances in corticostriatal function often result in repetitive behavior, where different classes of behavior appear to be supported by similar neural mechanisms. Although the exact nature of these imbalances are not yet fully understood, synthesizing the literature in this area provides a framework for studying the neurobiological systems involved in repetitive behavior.