Tourette's Syndrome as a vehicle in the search for the neural correlates of consciousness.
Peter J Chabot, Nicholas B Dadario, Michael E. Sughrue
Brain and Cognition December 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2025.106373 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with Tourette's Syndrome |
| Key findings | The non-language dominant prefrontal portion of the frontal operculum and the anterior insular cortex are implicated in tic inhibition and decision-making, and may be neural correlates of consciousness. |
Abstract
The neurological underpinnings of Tourette's Syndrome offer an avenue to identify the neural correlates of consciousness. Neuroimaging of Tourette's Syndrome patients during the volitional control of premonitory urges highlight the involvement of the non-language dominant prefrontal portion of the frontal operculum of the inferior frontal gyrus and the anterior insular cortex in tic inhibition and decision-making processes. Further studies reveal these regions are crucial for intention, volitional control, self-awareness, perception of tangible reality, and attentional selectivity, suggesting their potential role in the neural correlates of consciousness.