Focused Attention Inhibits Tics

[Retired]

Researchers have been telling us that behavioral strategies are being recognized as an effective means for may people with Tourette tics to manage their symptoms. Included in those strategies is engaging in activities requiring focused attention.

This quote is taken from the article:
Much More Being Learned About Tourette?s Syndrome
Psychiatric News
from The American Psychiatric Association
Clinical and Research News
December 05, 2014 DOI: 10.1176/appi.pn.2014.5a5

Actually one of the interesting features about Tourette?s is that if you do something that requires focus, attention, and motor control ? say, sing a song, juggle a ball, or play ping pong ? the tics stop,? said James Leckman, M.D., a professor of child psychiatry at Yale University.

Drumming workshops are already being used as a means to develop focused attention, I have often alluded to juggling as being an activity that utilizes the same area of the brain that inhibits tic activity during that activity, namely the basal ganglia.

Here is a YouTube video of Jacob Weiss, PhD, is a social entrepreneur and professional juggler who has Tourette Syndrome that illustrates that focused attention can inhibit tic activity.

Jason Michaels, diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome as a child, is now a professional entertainer and inspirational speaker. In this video he shares his gift of sleight of hand with the TS community and the world.

Focused attention can include activities like singing, drawing, painting, sculpting, various crafts, mechanical work, performing magic tricks, creative pursuits like playing a musical instrument like drums, for instance.