title: Aberrant cortical associative plasticity associated with severe adult Tourette syndrome.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Unidad de Trastornos del Movimiento, Servicio de Neurología y Neurofisiología Clínica, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors: Juan Francisco
authors: JF
authors: Martín-Rodríguez
authors: María Adilia
authors: MA
authors: Ruiz-Rodríguez
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: Palomar
authors: María Teresa
authors: MT
authors: Cáceres-Redondo
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Vargas
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Porcacchia
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Gómez-Crespo
authors: Ismael
authors: I
authors: Huertas-Fernández
authors: Fátima
authors: F
authors: Carrillo
authors: Marcos
authors: M
authors: Madruga-Garrido
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Mir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Tourette syndrome; associative plasticity; motor cortex; paired associative stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation