Hyperbinding effects in patients with GTS – taking a closer look

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Christian Beste, since 10/2023; Professor Dr. Tobias Bäumer; Professor Dr. Christian Frings
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Clinical Neurology; Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 360279285

Of late, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) has been conceptualized with reference to the Theory of Event Coding (TEC). Findings confirmed that GTS can be characterized by a ‘hyper-binding’ of sensory and motor codes constituting dominant sensorimotor routines, suggesting that alterations in the processing of perception-action features are central for the understanding of GTS. In this project, we relate hyper-binding in GTS to the Binding and Retrieval in Action Control (BRAC) framework that transcends TEC by emphasizing the separation of feature binding from feature retrieval. Thus, we will determine whether hyper-binding effects are due to deviant event-file integration (binding proper) or event-file retrieval, or both. Against the background that deviant processes might be more pronounced with tactile stimuli in GTS, we contrast binding versus retrieval in vision and touch. We propose that this approach deepens our understanding of the GTS-control differences in cognitive processes underlying binding effects, which potentially leads to interventions that are selectively targeting the responsible sub-processes.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2698: Cognitive theory for Tourette syndrome – a novel perspective
• Co-Investigators: Privatdozent Dr. Bernhard Pastötter; Dr. Julius Verrel
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Bernhard Hommel, until 10/2023