Gilles de la Tourette’s Syndrome is felt to be due to a chemical abnormality In selective regions of the brain. The dopamine neurotransmitter system acts like a lock and key to transfer messages in the brain. The lock, or dopamine receptor, plays a role in Tourette’s Syndrome and is the site of therapy for certain medications including Haldol (haloperidol). The initial goal of this project is to achieve a better understanding of the dopamine receptor (lock) In laboratory animals. How the different types of dopamine receptors (locks) function and are modified by disease states or medications will be explored. Several new scientific techniques will be used including autoradiography which shows a picture of the brain where the receptors are located. Also, local brain metabolism will be studied which shows how active a brain region is. If the results prove to be useful there are several other possible studies. One possible goal would be to study the receptor in humans using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). This might help to determine the chemical abnormality causing Tourette’s Syndrome. Eric Richfield, M.D., Research Fellow The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Award: $34,000 ($17,000. per annum for 2 years) Tourette Association of America, Inc. – Research Grant Award 1984