Functional Neuroanatomy of Tics: A Brain Network Perspective

Tourette syndrome is defined by motor and vocal tics, yet our understanding of the pathophysiology of tics remains limited. Functional MRI (fMRI) can localize brain function related to the clinical phenomenology of tics. Here, we review extant fMRI studies examining brain activity during the premonitory urge, tic release, and tic suppression. Results are placed in the context of large-scale functional networks, given recent advancements in understanding the brain's functional network organization. During tic-related phenomena, brain activity follows consistent patterns involving specific networks, largely centered around the cingulo-opercular action mode network. This network-level framework provides a novel avenue for targeted-treatment methods.