Neuroimaging of neuronal circuits involved in tic generation in patients with Tourette syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To identify brain regions generating tics in patients with Tourette syndrome using sleep as a baseline.


METHODS
We used [15O]H2O PET to study nine patients with Tourette syndrome and nine matched control subjects. For patients, conditions included tic release states and sleep stage 2; and for control subjects, rest states and sleep stage 2.


RESULTS
Our study showed robust activation of cerebellum, insula, thalamus, and putamen during tic release.


CONCLUSIONS
The network of structures involved in tics includes the activated regions and motor cortex. The prominent involvement of cerebellum and insula suggest their involvement in tic initiation and execution.
Lerner
A
A
Molecular Imaging Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2035, USA. lernera@mail.nih.gov
Bagic
A
A
Boudreau
E A
EA
Hanakawa
T
T
Pagan
F
F
Mari
Z
Z
Bara-Jimenez
W
W
Aksu
M
M
Garraux
G
G
Simmons
J M
JM
Sato
S
S
Murphy
D L
DL
Hallett
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D020323:Tics / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology