[The neurobiology of Tourette syndrome]

Tourette syndrome is a hereditary neuropsychiatric disorder that manifests as multiple chronic motor tics and verbal tics. The neurobiological disorders that seem to account for the symptoms that generate tics in these patients include alterations at three levels.

These levels are as follows: alterations in the thalamocortical corticostriatal pathway; dopaminergic dysfunction that leads to hyperactivity of this neurotransmitter, which generates tics; and probably an immunological alteration triggered by infection by group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus that creates autoantibodies to combat specific neuronal systems; nevertheless, further study is required in this area.

The aim of this paper was to review the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the neurobiology of Tourette syndrome.