title: Specific executive control impairments in Tourette syndrome: The role of response inhibition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. While cognitive features of common comorbid conditions such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder have been widely investigated, the cognitive profile of TS patients remains to be precisely defined. In this regard, the executive functions system (EF) is of especial interest.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to delineate the various components of executive processes in adult TS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 19 adults diagnosed with TS and 19 age-matched control subjects underwent computerized battery of executive tasks, as well as block design and memory tests. All patients received a thorough clinical assessment with an emphasis on illness severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a marked impairment in response inhibition ability regardless of comorbid conditions, In addition, there was decreased accuracy in set shifting, but not in response time. These results imply that impaired response inhibition in the EF system is the primary cognitive impairment in TS and that many of the previously reported impaired executive functions in TS are secondary to this impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding of impaired response inhibition in TS may imply that rehabilitation of this inhibition component could prove to be an important therapeutic strategy in adults with TS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Israel.
authors.forename: Asaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaniv
authors.affiliation: The Matta and Harry Freund Neuropsychiatric Tourette Clinic, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benaroya-Milshtein
authors.affiliation: The Matta and Harry Freund Neuropsychiatric Tourette Clinic, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.affiliation: The Matta and Harry Freund Neuropsychiatric Tourette Clinic, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruhrrman
authors.affiliation: The Matta and Harry Freund Neuropsychiatric Tourette Clinic, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apter
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Israel; The Gonda Brain Research center, Bar Ilan University, Israel. Electronic address: Michal.lavidor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lavidor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Executive functions; Inhibition; Tourette syndrome