Electro-myo-stimulation induced tic exacerbation – increased tendencies for the formation of perception-action links in tourette syndrome

Abstract

Background: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder defined by motor and phonic tics. Sensory stimuli can trigger tics, which suggests that GTS is a disorder of perception-action processing rather than a pure motor disorder. Case report: We describe a GTS patient that developed exacerbation of tics after transcutaneous electro-myo-stimulation (YGTSS pre-EMS 27/100, post-EMS 69/100). Discussion: If behaviorally irrelevant stimuli exacerbate tics, there might be a high readiness of the motor system to respond to any stimulus in these patients. In addition to tighter binding between previously established perception-action links, the likelihood for the formation of automatic perception-action links might also be higher in GTS.