Abstract: Objective To explore the feasibility of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) evaluating Tourette syndrome, based on the theory of SEP evaluating sensory-motor cortical function. Methods 33 cases of Tourette syndrome in our hospital from March 2014 to April 2015 were as the experiment group and 30 healthy participants were as the normal control group. Both groups were evaluated with Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and SEP. Results There was no significant difference in N20 leak latency and leak-leak amplitude of SEP between 2 groups (P>0.05). The P22 leak latency prolonged (t=2.356, P<0.05) and the leak-leak amplitude decreased (t=2.507, P<0.05) in the experiment group compared with the normal control group. The YGTSS score was higher in the experiment group than in the normal control group (t=3.012, P<0.01). The P22 leak latency was positively (r=0.402, P<0.001), and the P22 leak-leak amplitude was negatively (r=-0.180, P<0.001) correlated with YGTSS score. Conclusion Children with Tourette syndrome are disordered in inhibiting sensory or motor impulse through cortex-striatum-thalamus-cortex regulation circuit. SEP is considered as the objective indicator of patients with Tourette syndrome.

Key words: Tourette syndrome, somatosensory evoked potentials, P22