Primary dystonia is characterized by involuntary twisting and turning movements that occur in the absence of overt brain lesions or evidence of neurodegeneration. As Tanabe et al. discuss in this article, advances in structural and functional imaging have facilitated the identification of motor circuit abnormalities in patients with primary dystonia. In addition, the discovery of dystonia-related genes is providing important insights into the cell biological mechanisms that underlie circuit dysfunction.
- Lauren M. Tanabe
- Connie E. Kim
- William T. Dauer