Protocol Number: 04-N-0153
Normal volunteers and patients with Tourette syndrome or chronic tic disorder between 18 and 65 years of age may be eligible for this study. Control subjects must not have any neurological or psychological disorders, and patients with Tourette syndrome of chronic tic disorder must not have any other neurological disorders. Patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not enroll in this study. All participants will have a medical history, physical examination, and a test to determine their level of attention. Patients will be interviewed about their symptoms and complete psychiatric rating scales. In addition, all participants will undergo the following procedures: Electric shock Participants look at a clock on a computer screen, the hands of which revolves quickly. While looking at the clock, each participant will be given small, non-painful electric shocks and asked, according to the clock, to say when they received the shocks. The shocks are repeated 40 times. Arm movement Participants are asked to lift their arms off a table repeatedly, at random times, while they look at the computer clock. This exercise is repeated 80 times. Of these 80, participants are asked 10 times consecutively to say the time they first had the desire to move their arm, and then 10 consecutively the time they first felt that they were moving their arm. Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG) Participants undergo EEG and EMG during the electric shock and arm movement experiments to measure electrical activity of the brain (EEG) and of the muscles (EMG). For EEG, electrodes (small metal discs) are placed on the scalp with a cap, paste, or glue-like substance and the brain waves are recorded. For EMG, electrodes are taped to the skin over the muscle.
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