Frequency and Intensity of Premonitory Urges-to-Tic in Tourette Syndrome Is Associated With Supplementary Motor Area GABA+ Levels.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS) often report that they express tics as a means of alleviating the experience of unpleasant sensations. These sensations are perceived as an urge to act and are referred to as premonitory urges. Premonitory urges have been the focus of recent efforts to develop interventions to reduce tic expression in those with TS.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate levels of the right primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1), supplementary motor area (SMA), and insular cortex (insula) to tic and urge severity in children with TS.

Methods

Edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to assess GABA+ (GABA + macromolecules) and Glx (glutamate + glutamine) of the

SUBMITTER: He JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9014425 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature