There's a name for the driving factor behind food separatism: brumotactillophobia, or the fear of different food items touching each other.

Although these thoughts are often disturbing for the people who have them, trying to suppress them can make them worse -- but a new study on pre-empting them promises some hope.

The finding may help in the development of customized treatments using deep brain stimulation.

"I looked down at a pair of scabbing, unevenly patched white hands and knew I had to speak to my mother."