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Tourettism

Tourettism is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Tourettism rather than just read about it. In short: Tourettism refers to the presence of Tourette-like symptoms in the absence of Tourette syndrome, as the result of other diseases or conditions, known as "secondary causes". Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological condition of multiple motor and at least one vocal tic.

Tourettism — main illustration
Tourettism — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Tourettism belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Tourettism to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Tourettism from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Tourettism refers to the presence of Tourette-like symptoms in the absence of Tourette syndrome, as the result of other diseases or conditions, known as "secondary causes". Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological condition of multiple motor and at least one vocal tic. Although Tourette syndrome is the most common cause of tic disorders, other sporadic, genetic, and neurodegenerative disorders may also exhibit tics. Conditions that may manifest tics or stereotyped movements include developmental disorders; autism spectrum disorders and stereotypic movement disorder; Sydenham's chorea; idiopathic dystonia; and genetic conditions such as Huntington's disease, neuroacanthocytosis, pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Wilson's disease, and tuberous sclerosis. Other possibilities include chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, XYY syndrome and fragile X syndrome. Acquired causes of tics include drug-induced tics, head trauma, encephalitis, stroke, and carbon monoxide poisoning. The symptoms of Lesch–Nyhan syndrome may also be confused with Tourette syndrome.

Tic mimickers Chorea (disease) Myoclonus Dystonia Torsion dystonia Idiopathic dystonia

Genetic/chromosomal Chromosomal abnormalities Citrullinemia Down syndrome Duchenne muscular dystrophy Fragile X syndrome Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration Huntington's disease Klinefelter syndrome Lesch–Nyhan syndrome Neuroacanthocytosis Neurodegeneration Phenylketonuria Schizophrenia Tuberous sclerosis Wilson's disease XYY syndrome

Infectious or post-infectious Encephalitis Mycoplasma pneumoniae Sydenham's chorea

Developmental Pervasive developmental disorders Asperger syndrome Autism spectrum Rett syndrome Intellectual disability Static encephalopathy Stereotypic movement disorder

Toxins/insults/acquired Carbon monoxide poisoning Cerebral palsy Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease Fetal alcohol syndrome Head trauma Hypoglycemia Intrauterine exposure to illicit drugs Intrauterine infections Mercury Neurocutaneous syndromes Neurosyphilis Perinatal asphyxia Psychogenic disease Stroke Wasp venom

Drugs Cocaine Levodopa (Dopar, Larodopa) Antiepileptics Carbamazepine (Atretol, Epitol, Tegretol) Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Amphetamines Pemoline Phenytoin (Dilantin) Phenobarbital Antipsychotics (e.g.; haloperidol)

Notes

References Black, Kevin J. Tourette Syndrome and Other Tic Disorders. eMedicine.com March 22, 2006.

Further reading Erer S, Jankovic J (Feb 2007). "Adult onset tics after peripheral injury". Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 14 (1): 75–6. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2006.12.009. PMID 17292653.

Illustrations

Tourettism: Portrait of Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904), who published in 1885 an account of nine patients with a "convulsive tic disorder".
Portrait of Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1857–1904), who published in 1885 an account of nine patients with a "convulsive tic disorder".

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Tourettism

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Tourettism claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Tourettism before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Tourettism ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Tourettism

In research
Tourettism appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Tourettism in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Tourettism is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Tourette syndrome, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Tourettism outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Tourettism in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Tourettism means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Tourettism out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tourettism in simple terms?

Tourettism refers to the presence of Tourette-like symptoms in the absence of Tourette syndrome, as the result of other diseases or conditions, known as "secondary causes". Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological condition of multiple motor and at least one vocal tic.

Why does Tourettism matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Tourettism?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Tourettism.

Tags

  • Tourette syndrome

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