title: Prefrontal cortex volume reductions and tic inhibition are unrelated in uncomplicated GTS adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tics in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) are repetitive patterned movements, resembling spontaneous motor behaviour, but escaping voluntary control. Previous studies hypothesised relations between structural alterations in prefrontal cortex of GTS adults and tic severity using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), but could not demonstrate a significant association. The relation between prefrontal cortex structure and tic inhibition has not been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we used VBM to examine 14 GTS adults without associated comorbidities, and 15 healthy controls. We related structural alterations in GTS to clinical measures of tic severity and tic control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grey matter volumes in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the left frontal pole were reduced in patients relative to healthy controls. These changes were not related to tic severity and tic inhibition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prefrontal grey matter volume reductions in GTS adults are not related to state measures of tic phenomenology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany; Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; Department of Paediatric and Adult Movement Disorders and Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany. Electronic address: cganos@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ganos
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany; Department of Paediatric and Adult Movement Disorders and Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Odette
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schunke
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric and Adult Movement Disorders and Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric and Adult Movement Disorders and Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bäumer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Götz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomalla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haggard
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric and Adult Movement Disorders and Neuropsychiatry, Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Münchau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020323:Tics / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome; Prefrontal cortex; Tic inhibition; Voxel-based morphometry