A peek into premonitory urges in Tourette syndrome: Temporal evolution of neurophysiological oscillatory signatures. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Niccolai, Valentina; Korczok, Silvana; Finis, Jennifer; Jonas, Melanie; Thomalla, Götz; Siebner, Hartwig Roman; Müller-Vahl, Kirsten; Münchau, Alexander; Schnitzler, Alfons; Biermann-Ruben, Katja
• Is Part Of: Parkinsonism & related disorders. Volume 65(2019)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 158
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Tourette syndrome -- Oscillations -- Beta -- Urge -- Intention; Parkinson's disease -- Periodicals; Movement disorders -- Periodicals; Movement Disorders -- Periodicals; Nerve Degeneration -- Periodicals; Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Parkinson Disease -- Periodicals; Tremor -- Periodicals; Parkinson, Maladie de -- Périodiques; Parkinson's disease; 616.833
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.05.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8020

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Tics are the core symptom of patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, yet the spatial-temporal dynamics of neural activity causing a tic remains to be determined. Objective: Identification of cortical events preceding tic onset. Methods: In twelve patients with Tourette syndrome we performed magnetoencephalography to trace the time course of beta oscillations (15–30 Hz) in motor cortical areas before tic onset. Results: Patients showed a biphasic modulation of cortical beta activity during the second before tic onset. We observed an initial increase of beta power over the left-hemispheric channels overlying the motor cortex. This increase was subsequently replaced by a decrease in beta power. The beta decrease close to tic onset resembled the typical pattern accompanying preparation of voluntary movements. Only the initial increase in beta power positively correlated with the intensity of motor urges preceding tics. Conclusions: The spatial-temporal dynamics of cortical activity suggests a voluntary component of tics that might be triggered by a failure of compensatory motor inhibitory mechanisms. Highlights: Tic onset is preceded by a biphasic modulation of cortical beta activity. In the 1 s before tic onset, beta power increase is followed by beta decrease. Beta power increase positively correlates with the intensity of 'motor' urges.