A research team conducts a brain imaging study and discovers that individuals with more severe obsessive-compulsive symptoms also show higher levels of activity in a particular brain circuit. Based only on this type of finding, what is the most appropriate conclusion the researchers can draw?

A research study uses brain imaging and finds a strong positive association between the severity of a person's obsessive-compulsive symptoms and the level of activity in a particular brain circuit. Based only on this finding, what is the most valid conclusion?