According to biological theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) , impulses are carried to a part of the basal ganglia called the ________, which allows the strongest of the impulses to flow through to the thalamus.

A) hippocampus
B) pons
C) caudate nucleus
D) locus ceruleus

According to biological theories of OCD, the caudate nucleus is the part of the basal ganglia that plays a key role in the disorder. It has been suggested that overactivity in the caudate nucleus may lead to difficulty in suppressing unwanted thoughts and impulses, leading to the characteristic symptoms of OCD. The caudate nucleus helps to filter impulses and allows the strongest impulses to flow through to the thalamus, which is involved in the regulation of attention, consciousness, and sensory perception.