Case Report: Second-order Contrast Sensitivity in Tourette Syndrome

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric developmental disease, characterized by motor and vocal tics with no changes in the ocular structures in the ophthalmological evaluations. The visual field evaluations suggest a reduction in central visual field sensitivity. The studies on visual function in this population is scarce. In this case report we present a patient with GTS who has significant alterations in the measure of contrast sensitivity for second order vision without any vision complaints. This reduction occurred in the measure of contrast sensitivity with a white noise carrier for practically all tested space frequencies. The mean contrast sensitivity for first and second -order stimuli with a pink -noise carrier was normal. The second order contrast sensitivity with a white noise carrier is dependent on local and lateral inhibition since it includes many local luminance components. The existence of this sensitivity suggests that specific visual processing mechanisms are affected.