AUTONOMIC REGULATION DURING REST AND MENTAL LOAD IN GILLES-DE-LA-TOURETTE-SYNDROME

Cardiovascular and catecholaminergic activity during mental load were studied in patients with Tourette syndrome. Patients and controls perf ormed the Color Word Test, preceded by a baseline period, with continu ous measurements of heart rate and blood pressure. Blood samples for a ssay of plasma catecholamine concentrations were obtained before and d uring the test. The patients showed higher heart rate and blood pressu re during baseline than controls, but no differences regarding plasma catecholamines. The ties corresponded with transient increases in hear t rate and blood pressure. Spectral analysis of cardiovascular variabi lity during mental load gave only limited evidence of increased sympat hetic activity and no alterations in parasympathetic activity in the p atients. Therefore, our findings indicate enhanced cardiovascular acti vity in the patients but not during mental load. The effects of ties o n the cardiovascular parameters illustrate the functional complexity o f the autonomic nervous system in Tourette syndrome.