Cognitive characteristics of “pure” Tourette Syndrome and what we can learn from neurological study

ABSTRACT

This review article addresses executive function processes and the capacity for social cognition in “pure” Tourette Syndrome (TS) – that is, characteristics that are attributable to TS and not the common cooccurring diagnoses Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder – with the aim of identifying a cognitive profile that is specific to TS. The association of deficits in these areas with symptom severity is addressed as well. A brief discussion of functional neurological distinctions associated with Tourette Syndrome often referred to in the literature on TS is included. Results indicate cognitive tasks that involve greater processing demands or that elicit strong automatic responses are more challenging in “pure” TS, and that executive function deficits are associated with greater tic severity. Findings are interpreted in light of a neurocognitive model implicating enhanced perception-action binding and reduced neural inhibitory capacity.

KEYWORDS:

• Tourette syndrome
• executive function
• social cognition
• perception-action binding
• disinhibition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).