[Cognitive advantage in atypical development: enhanced procedural learning in Tourette syndrome].

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by motor and vocal tics and by alterations in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical (CBGTC) circuitry. The CBGTC circuitry plays an important role in procedural learning, in the acquisition of skills and habits. Tics and habits are similar phenomenologically since tics can be described as overlearned habits. Based on these characteristics, prior studies proposed enhanced pro - ce dural learning, i.e., procedural hyperfunctioning in Tourette syndrome. A growing body of evidence supports this notion. The focus of the present review article is to discuss procedural hyperfunctioning in Tourette syndrome. We aim to shed light on a cognitive advantage in Tourette syndrome and to draw attention to the notion that pathologies and developmental disorder can be characterized not only with impairments and cognitive dysfunctions but with enhanced functions as well.