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Cerebellar morphology in Tourette syndrome and obsessive‐compulsive disorder
Author(s) -
Tobe Russell H.,
Bansal Ravi,
Xu Dongrong,
Hao Xuejun,
Liu Jun,
Sanchez Juan,
Peterson Bradley S.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.21918
Subject(s) - cerebellum , disinhibition , tourette syndrome , psychology , magnetic resonance imaging , voxel based morphometry , brain morphometry , audiology , neuroscience , white matter , psychiatry , medicine , radiology
Abstract Objective Neuroanatomical and functional imaging studies have identified the cerebellum as an integral component of motor and language control. Few studies, however, have investigated the role of the cerebellum in Tourette syndrome (TS), a condition defined by the presence of semi‐involuntary movements and sounds. Methods Magnetic resonance imaging was conducted in 163 persons with TS and 147 control participants. Multivariate linear regression models were used to explore effects on cerebellar surface morphology and underlying volumes for the main diagnosis effects of TS as well as comorbid obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Additionally, the correlations of symptom severity with cerebellar morphology were also assessed. Results The TS group demonstrated reduced volumes of the cerebellar hemispheres bilaterally that derived primarily from reduced gray matter in crus I and lobules VI, VIIB, and VIIIA. These decreased regional volumes accompanied increasing tic symptom severity and motoric disinhibition as demonstrated by a finger tapping test. Males had reduced volumes of these same regions compared with females, irrespective of diagnosis. Comorbid OCD was associated with relative enlargement of these regions in proportion to the increasing severity of OCD symptoms. Interpretation The cerebellum is involved in the pathogenesis of TS and tic‐related OCD. Baseline gender differences in cerebellar morphology may in part account for the more prevalent expression of TS in males. ANN NEUROL 2010;67:479–487