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Aberrant cortical associative plasticity associated with severe adult Tourette syndrome
Author(s) -
MartínRodríguez Juan Francisco,
RuizRodríguez María Adilia,
Palomar Francisco J.,
CáceresRedondo María Teresa,
Vargas Laura,
Porcacchia Paolo,
GómezCrespo Mercedes,
HuertasFernández Ismael,
Carrillo Fátima,
MadrugaGarrido Marcos,
Mir Pablo
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.26151
Subject(s) - tourette syndrome , transcranial magnetic stimulation , neuroplasticity , neuroscience , psychology , motor cortex , stimulation , tics , plasticity , medicine , psychiatry , physics , thermodynamics
Background Recent studies have shown altered cortical plasticity in adult patients with Tourette syndrome. However, the clinical significance of this finding remains elusive. Methods Motor cortical plasticity was evaluated in 15 adult patients with severe Tourette syndrome and 16 healthy controls using the paired associative stimulation protocol by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Associations between paired associative stimulation–induced plasticity and relevant clinical variables, including cortical excitability, psychiatric comorbidities, drug treatment and tic severity, were assessed. Results Motor cortical plasticity was abnormally increased in patients with Tourette syndrome compared with healthy subjects. This abnormal plasticity was independently associated with tic severity. Conclusion Patients with severe Tourette syndrome display abnormally increased cortical associative plasticity. This aberrant cortical plasticity was associated with tic severity, suggesting an underlying mechanism for tic pathophysiology. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society