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Medial Prefrontal Cortex Brain Magnetic Stimulation in Autism
Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital
Summary
Despite decades of research, no definitive, effective biological treatments exist for core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Emerging evidence suggests that conventional Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or posterior superior temporal sulcus may reduce repetitive behaviors, but its efficacy on social communication remains inconsistent. Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) allows for the stimulation of deeper brain structures. Deep social brain networks, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), play a critical role in social cognition and mentalizing processes. Targeting the mPFC with dTMS holds potential for improving core impairments in social cognition among individuals with ASD. This pilot study aims to evaluate the efficacy of dTMS on social cognition, mPFC-related functional connectivity, and clinical symptoms (autism severity, stereotyped behaviors, sensory symptoms, and emotion regulation).
Official title: The Efficacy and Brain Mechanism of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Autism: A Pilot Study Targeting Medial Prefrontal Cortex
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 45 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2026-12-01
Completion Date
2028-12-31
Last Updated
2026-08-18
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
TMS
The TMS device (Brainsway Deep TMS system with an H1 coil device, Brainsway Ltd, Israel) emits brief, noninvasive electromagnetic pulses through the skull, inducing an electrical current in a specific cortical region to affect neuronal function. Subjects will receive 10 once-daily high-frequency repetitive TMS sessions on 10 consecutive work days. To stimulate the mPFC, the H1 coil helmet will be placed symmetrically bilaterally and with its zero mark 3 cm above the nasion on the sagittal rule. The stimulation parameters follow the standard protocol cleared by the USFDA. Each session consists of 55 trains of 2-sec 18-Hz stimulation, given every 20 sec (2-sec on and 18-second off, inter-train interval 20 sec), and the stimulation intensity is 120% resting motor threshold (rMT). As such 1980 pulses will be given in around 20 minutes each session. The rMT is the minimal stimulation intensity that can induce observable muscle contraction in at least 5 out of 10 consecutive stimulations.
Locations (1)
Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan