Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one phonic tic. TS patients often faces various comorbid disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For a child with TS, having comorbid ADHD comes with a lot of complications, such as more inhibitory deficits and increased impulsivity. Our project aims to assess the brain function of children with TS and/or ADHD. We want to identify markers that would facilitate an earlier diagnosis of these conditions. An earlier diagnosis would enable treatment strategies to be put in place more quickly. For instance, earlier treatment of ADHD symptoms could prevent the development of several behavioral problems in adulthood. To evaluate the brain function of these children, we will use electroencephalography, which records the electrical activity of the brain. We will evaluate the connections between some regions of the brain during different conditions. We will first use a cognitive control task. Cognitive control is very important in TS patients because it allows them to control their tics in certain situations and for short periods. In addition, we will evaluate brain function directly while children with TS are voluntarily attempting to suppress their tics. We expect that having both TS and ADHD will have a negative impact on cognitive control. This should also be reflected in brain function, which should differ between children with TS, those with ADHD, and those with both TS and ADHD.