[Features of the temporal structure of the respiratory cycle in the Tourette syndrome as a possible reflection of intensified dopaminergic processes].

The effect of dopamine blockers (chlorpromazine and haloperidol) and the dopaminomimetic piribedil on the structure of the breathing cycle was studied under conditions of the clinical employment of the drugs. It was found that piribedil increased the inspiration fraction (IF) in the respiratory cycle whereas neuroleptics diminished it. Twenty-six children with Tourette's syndrome (TS) and 24 with a temporal form of epilepsy were examined. Patients with TS showed two specific features of respiration regulation: a greater value of IF and a greater variability of respiratory parameters. Taking into account the pharmacological data, an increase in IF is considered as physiological evidence of dopaminergic hyperfunction in TS whereas a greater variability of respiratory parameters may reflect the paroxysmal activity of deep cerebral structures.