Repetitive behaviors are not an uncommon part of human experience, but not all repetitive actions serve the same purpose or carry the same meaning. Two types of behaviors that are often confused are ...

Some habits are harder to quit than others. That's particularly true for body-focused repetitive behaviors, also called BFRBs. But most of us know them as nail biting, skin picking and even hair ...

People with autism are typically diagnosed by clinical observation and assessment. To deconstruct the clinical decision process, which is often subjective and difficult to describe, researchers used a ...

Example of repetitive behavior seen in mice. Some mice trace the same route through their cage over and over and over again. Abnormal repetitive behaviors in mice are strongly linked to multiple ...

Individuals with checking OCD experience overwhelming urges to repeatedly check things, such as locked doors, appliances being turned off, or tasks being completed correctly. Obsessive-compulsive ...

Rhesus macaques in U.S. research laboratories frequently pull out their own hair, pace in tight loops, and rock back and forth, behaviors long attributed to the stress of captivity. A study published ...

Chasing light shimmers reflected onto a wall. Obsessive licking or chewing. Compulsive barking and whining. Pacing or tail chasing. Nearly one in three pet dogs suffer from these ADHD-like repetitive ...