Altered performance monitoring in Tourette Syndrome: an MEG investigation.

The error-related negativity (ERN) is an event-related potential component indexing processes of performance monitoring during simple stimulus-response tasks: the ERN is typically enhanced for error processing and conflicting response representations. Investigations in healthy participants and different patient groups have linked the ERN to the dopamine system and to prefrontal information processing. As in patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS) both dopamine release and prefrontal information processing are impaired, we hypothesized that performance monitoring would be altered, which was investigated with magnetencephalography (MEG).

A peek into premonitory urges in Tourette syndrome: Temporal evolution of neurophysiological oscillatory signatures.

Background: Tics are the core symptom of patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, yet the spatial-temporal dynamics of neural activity causing a tic remains to be determined.

Objective: Identification of cortical events preceding tic onset.

Methods: In twelve patients with Tourette syndrome we performed magnetoencephalography to trace the time course of beta oscillations (15-30 Hz) in motor cortical areas before tic onset.

Increased beta rhythm as an indicator of inhibitory mechanisms in tourette syndrome.

Background: Inhibitory oscillatory mechanisms subserving tic compensation have been put forward in Tourette syndrome. Modulation of the beta rhythm (15-25 Hz) as the well-established oscillatory movement execution-inhibition indicator was tested during a cognitive-motor task in patients with Tourette syndrome.

Methods: Performing a Go/NoGo task, 12 patients with Tourette syndrome and 12 matched controls were recorded using whole-head magnetoencephalography.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the supplementary motor area induces echophenomena.

Apart from tics, echopraxia or echophenomena (EP), i.e., automatic imitation of observed movements, are common in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS).

Increased sensory feedback in Tourette syndrome.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuro-psychiatric disorder being characterized by motor and phonic tics typically preceded by sensory urges. Given the latter the role of the sensory system and sensorimotor interaction in TS has recently gained increased attention. 12 TS patients and 12 matched control subjects performed two tasks, requiring simple finger movements: a Go/NoGo task and a self paced movement task.

Echoes from childhood--imitation in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome.

Background: Tourette syndrome patients are reported to show automatic imitation (echopraxia), but this has not yet been proven experimentally.

Methods: Video clips showing either tics of other Tourette patients or spontaneous movements of healthy subjects were presented to Tourette patients and healthy subjects. Participants' responses were assessed using blinded review of video recordings by 2 independent raters and related to stimuli presented.