Mapping Gilles de la Tourette syndrome through the distress and relief associated with tic-related behaviors: an fMRI study.

ABSTRACT: Personal distress associated with tic urges or inhibition and relief associated with tic production are defining features of the personal experience in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). These affective phenomena have not been studied using fMRI, hindering our understanding of GTS pathophysiology and possible treatments. Here, we present a novel cross-sectional fMRI study designed to map tic-related phenomenology using distress and relief as predicting variables. We adopted a mental imagery approach and dissected the brain activity associated with different phases of tic behaviors, premonitory urges, and the ensuing tic execution or inhibition: these were compared with the mental simulation of "relaxed situations" and pre-determined stereotyped motor behaviors. We then explored whether

SUBMITTER: Zapparoli L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10774308 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature