Auditory Evoked Potentials in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome

Abstract

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) has been increasingly studied neurophysiologically as well as clinically. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) have been recognized to be part of the continuum of TS. We recorded brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and long-latency auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in 20 patients with TS, 10 of whom had ADD and 6 OCD. TS patients with and without OCD and ADD did not differ in BAEP latencies, and no differences were found from normal controls. AEP latencies did not differ between TS patients and controls. TS patients with ADD had longer N100 and N200 latencies than TS patients without ADD, and TS patients with OCD had shorter N200 and P300 latencies. These findings suggest that TS is neurophysiologically heterogenous, and that TS patients with OCD or ADD may differ from those without.

Neuropsychological aspects of Tourette syndrome: A review

“…Silverstein et al [48] found no evidence that TS patients without ADHD were worse on the TMT in comparison to controls, but showed that this comorbid disorder had a detrimental effect on performance. Other studies have failed to find evidence of attentional deficits in TS [42,49] even in patients with comorbid ADHD [50]. However, Chang et al [32] found evidence of poor performance on a test of spatial attention in TS even after controlling for ADHD.…”

Electrophysiological measures and dual‐task performance in Tourette syndrome indicate deficient divided attention mechanisms

“…(1994) described a negative component overlapping the N100–N200 and suggested that this reflects an increased attention to non‐relevant stimuli. Another report, however, did not describe such changes (Drake et al ., 1992). An increased P2 as well as a topographical shift of the P3 has also been observed and has been interpreted to indicate altered inhibition processes and difficulties in sustaining attention (Oades et al ., 1996).…”

Executive and Attention Functioning Among Children in the PANDAS Subgroup

“…Studies of ERP in subjects with OCD have consistently shown hyperarousal of the cortex during attentional tasks (de Groot, Torello, Boutros, & Allen, 1997; Gohle et al, 2008; Herrmann, Jacob, Unterecker, & Fallgatter, 2003; Towey et al, 1990). In subjects with TS, ERP has begun to help unravel the neurological substrates that separate subjects with and without comorbid ADHD (Drake et al, 1992; Oades, Dittmann-Balcar, Schepker, Eggers, & Zerbin, 1996; Zhu et al, 2006). Other methods of functional imaging, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), may also be considered.…”