Neural correlates of performance monitoring in adult patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: A study of event-related potentials

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neural correlates of performance monitoring in adult patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: A study of event-related potentials

AU - Warren, Claire

AU - Seer, Caroline

AU - Lange, Florian

AU - Kopp, Bruno

AU - Müller-Vahl, Kirsten

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - ObjectivesGilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by motor and vocal tics. There is undoubtedly basal ganglia involvement, which are also important for cognitive processes including performance monitoring and interference resolution. We investigated these functions in adult patients with GTS compared to healthy controls (HCs).MethodsWe compared a group of N = 23 adult patients with GTS to N = 27 HC on a flanker task during an EEG recording. Reaction times and error rates were recorded, as well as N2 and Ne/ERN amplitudes. The N2 is an index of interference resolution. The Ne/ERN is a negative fronto-central component, occurring when participants make mistakes.ResultsPatients’ reaction times were enhanced on incongruent trials compared to HC. Electrophysiological data revealed more frontal components, as well as significantly increased Ne/ERN amplitudes in patients with GTS compared to HC (p = 0.026).ConclusionsAltered electrophysiological correlates of error processing in adult patients with GTS compared to HC cannot be attributed to differential error probabilities. Potentially, patients recruit compensatory resources from frontal networks to maintain behavioural performance.SignificanceThis study gives further insight into cognitive deficits of patients with GTS, and the underlying neural processes of these functions.

AB - ObjectivesGilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by motor and vocal tics. There is undoubtedly basal ganglia involvement, which are also important for cognitive processes including performance monitoring and interference resolution. We investigated these functions in adult patients with GTS compared to healthy controls (HCs).MethodsWe compared a group of N = 23 adult patients with GTS to N = 27 HC on a flanker task during an EEG recording. Reaction times and error rates were recorded, as well as N2 and Ne/ERN amplitudes. The N2 is an index of interference resolution. The Ne/ERN is a negative fronto-central component, occurring when participants make mistakes.ResultsPatients’ reaction times were enhanced on incongruent trials compared to HC. Electrophysiological data revealed more frontal components, as well as significantly increased Ne/ERN amplitudes in patients with GTS compared to HC (p = 0.026).ConclusionsAltered electrophysiological correlates of error processing in adult patients with GTS compared to HC cannot be attributed to differential error probabilities. Potentially, patients recruit compensatory resources from frontal networks to maintain behavioural performance.SignificanceThis study gives further insight into cognitive deficits of patients with GTS, and the underlying neural processes of these functions.

U2 - 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.11.019

DO - 10.1016/j.clinph.2019.11.019

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 31972503

VL - 131

SP - 597

EP - 608

JO - CLIN NEUROPHYSIOL

JF - CLIN NEUROPHYSIOL

SN - 1388-2457

IS - 3

ER -