Scientists at National Institutes of Health report research in tourette syndrome
2007 SEP 3 -- In this recently published article, scientists in the United States conducted a study "To identify brain regions generating tics in patients with Tourette syndrome using sleep as a baseline. We used [O-15]H2O PET to study nine patients with Tourette syndrome and nine matched control subjects." "For patients, conditions included tic release states and sleep stage 2; and for control subjects, rest states and sleep stage 2. Our study showed robust activation of cerebellum, insula, thalamus, and putamen during tic release. The network of structures involved in tics includes the activated regions and motor cortex," wrote A. Lerner and colleagues, National Institutes of Health. The researchers concluded: "The prominent involvement of cerebellum and insula suggest their involvement in tic initiation and execution." Lerner and colleagues published their study in Neurology (Neuroimaging of neuronal circuits involved in tic generation in patients with Tourette syndrome. Neurology, 2007;68(23):1979-1987). For additional information, contact A. Lerner, NIMH, Molecular Imaging Branch, Neuropsychol Laboratory, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Dr. MSC 2035, Bldg 31, Room B2-B34, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. The publisher's contact information for the journal Neurology is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: United States, Bethesda, Central Nervous System Disease, Tourette Syndrome, National Institutes of Health. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
|
