Insight to Tourette's syndrome

1. TOURETTE’S SYNDROME
Centre For Converging Technologies,
University of Rajasthan
First year M.tech in Neuroscience
Pratik Ranjan

2. POINTS TO DISCUSS
-> Introduction.
-> What is Tourette’s syndrome who gets it.
-> Diagnosis.
-> Causes.
-> Function of the nervous system that are apparent or are
impaired in Tourette’s.
-> Ways in which this course has helped and allowed me
to better analyze the events and phenomena around me.
-> Treatment.

3. INTRODUCTION
 Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome, or Tourette’s syndrome, is
a
neurodevelopmental condition characterized by multiple
motor
and vocal tics, which appear in childhood and are often
accompanied by behavioural symptoms.
 Described by French physician Georges Gilles de la
Tourette in 1885.

4. WHAT IS TOURETTE’S SYNDROME AND
WHO GETS IT?
 The chronic presence of at least two motor tics and one vocal tic since
childhood is recognized as the key feature of Tourette’s syndrome.
 Tics are defined as involuntary, sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic
movements (motor tics) and vocalizations (vocal or phonic tics).
 Simple motor tics can manifest themselves as eye blinking, facial
grimacing, shoulder shrugging, neck stretching, and abdominal
contractions.
 Tourette syndrome is a genetic condition, which means it's passed down
from a person's parents.

5. HOW IS TOURETTE SYNDROME
DIAGNOSED?
 At least two motor and one vocal tic (not necessarily
concurrently)
 Presence of tics for at least 12 months
 Onset before age 18 years
 Tics not caused by the physiological effects of substances
(such as stimulants) or other medical conditions (such as
Huntington’s disease).
 A doctor will order several tests like blood tests, EEG, and
brain scans.

6. CAUSE OF TOURETTE SYNDRME?
 In Tourette's syndrome, clusters of neurons in the ventral
striatum of the basal ganglia may become abnormally
active, leading to inhibition of neurons in the Globus
pallidus and substantia nigra (the basal ganglia's output
centers). “Neurons in these areas normally act to suppress
unwanted movements.
 As inactivation of pallidum can cause difficulty in stopping
competing movement. So this causes uncontrolled and
unwanted movement.

7. FUNCTION OF THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM THAT ARE APPARENT OR
ARE IMPAIRED IN TOURETTE’S.
 As Pallidum is always active and helpful in Action
selection and these active neuron inhibit movement.
So, when we want to do a specific action excitatory
signal comes from cerebral cortex which stimulates
striatum and goes to further disinhibit pallidum so
specific action occur. This is also called direct pathway.
 In indirect pathway, pallidum cells is excited which
causes the competing movement to be inhibited more.
Pallidum cells contain GABA and are therefore
inhibitory.

8. WAYS IN WHICH THIS COURSE HAS
HELPED AND ALLOWED ME TO
BETTER ANALYZE THE EVENTS AND
PHENOMENA AROUND ME.
I am a student and pursuing M.Tech in neuroscience. This
course has helped me in a lot of ways . I have been
studying neuroscience for about 3 years but just reading
book and seeing YouTube video wasn’t helping me out to
understand to the best. After enrolling in this course the
lecture video, lab video , In-video test , weakly exam has
helped me to understand neuroscience to a great extent
and increased my interest in the subject. At last , lots and
lots of thanks to Peggy Mason Mam for sharing her
knowledge with us.

9. HOW IS TOURETTE’S SYNDROME
TREATED?
 There's no cure for Tourette syndrome.
 Visiting a psychologist or psychiatrist can be helpful, too.