Precision brain mapping of tics in children with Tourette syndrome
Official title: Functional Neuroanatomy of Tics in Individual Children with Tourette Syndrome: A Precision Mapping fMRI Study
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11365439 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new study uses advanced MRI to map brain activity in individual kids with Tourette syndrome to understand why tics differ from child to child.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $786,893 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH140843-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365439 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with Tourette syndrome who have tic symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the age range or without Tourette syndrome may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project will build personalized brain maps for children aged 0-11 with Tourette syndrome to pinpoint brain regions linked to different tics. Using repeated, child-friendly functional MRI sessions, researchers will create single-patient profiles that highlight tic-related brain activity. The goal is to tailor future therapies by understanding each child’s unique tic neurobiology rather than averaging results across many patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to more targeted and effective treatments for tic symptoms in individual children.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human neuroimaging studies of tic-related brain activity exist, but this project emphasizes individualized brain mapping for children.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greene, Deanna Jacquelyn — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Greene, Deanna Jacquelyn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Digital tic-detection partner to support Tourette syndrome therapy
A computer vision system will help detect tics in children and youths with Tourette syndrome to support behavioral therapy at home and in real life.
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Quantifying Tourette tics with video and computer tools
This project aims to develop and test video-based, automated ways to measure tic severity in people with Tourette Syndrome.
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Brain-feedback training to help teens with Tourette control tics
This project teaches teenagers with Tourette syndrome to use real-time MRI brain-feedback to change activity in a motor brain area with the goal of reducing tics.
-
International collaboration mapping genes and brain scans in Tourette syndrome
This project brings together MRI brain scans and genetic data from people with Tourette syndrome and related conditions to spot biological patterns linked to tics and co-occurring symptoms.
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How Tourette syndrome develops in the brain
Researchers are using donated brain tissue and patient-derived stem cells to learn why people with Tourette syndrome have fewer specific brain cells in the basal ganglia.
-
Investigating brain imaging and cognitive markers in children with Tourette syndrome
This study is looking at how Tourette syndrome affects kids by using brain scans and tests over time to see how their brain functions change as they grow, with the goal of finding ways to help manage their symptoms better.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.