Abstract: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is characterised by tics, although
patients also commonly present with attentional problems. This experiment aimed
to ascertain whether TS patients have problems in orienting attention, via the
use of a vibrotactile choice reaction time task. Participants were required to
push a button in response to a faint vibration delivered to the index finger.
Prior to each stimulus vibration, a pre-cue (valid, neutral or invalid) was
administered to the finger. The performance benefits and costs participants
gained from valid and invalid precues were calculated. Contrary to our
prediction TS patients did not show significantly different costs or benefits.
Furthermore, both patients and controls showed an equal and increased benefit
in the crossed arm posture, compared to the uncrossed. These results suggest TS
patients do not generally have problems in orienting attention. In addition, in
the tactile modality, both patients and controls may benefit from directed
attention when difficulty levels are maximal.
