Our research has been guided by the voices of people with tic disorders and their families, who told us they wanted a safe, non-drug treatment that could be used outside the clinic and put individuals back in control of their tics. This feedback led us to explore peripheral nerve stimulation as a way to target the brain networks involved in tic production.

Through our studies, we found that gentle, rhythmic electrical stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist can strengthen brain rhythms linked to movement suppression. This approach has been shown to significantly reduce both tic frequency and the urge to tic, without affecting intentional movements or cognitive functions like attention.