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. 2019 Nov;25(11):1254-1261.
doi: 10.1111/cns.13150. Epub 2019 Jun 22.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on children with low-function autism

Jian-Nan Kang  1 , Jia-Jia Song  1 , Manuel F Casanova  2 , Estate M Sokhadze  2 , Xiao-Li Li  3
Affiliations

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on children with low-function autism

Jian-Nan Kang et al. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a very complex neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by social difficulties and stereotypical or repetitive behavior. Some previous studies using low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have proven of benefit in ASD children.

Methods: In this study, 32 children (26 males and six females) with low-function autism were enrolled, 16 children (three females and 13 males; mean ± SD age: 7.8 ± 2.1 years) received rTMS treatment twice every week, while the remaining 16 children (three females and 13 males; mean ± SD age: 7.2 ± 1.6 years) served as waitlist group. This study investigated the effects of rTMS on brain activity and behavioral response in the autistic children.

Results: Peak alpha frequency (PAF) is an electroencephalographic measure of cognitive preparedness and might be a neural marker of cognitive function for the autism. Coherence is one way to assess the brain functional connectivity of ASD children, which has proven abnormal in previous studies. The results showed significant increases in the PAF at the frontal region, the left temporal region, the right temporal region and the occipital region and a significant increase of alpha coherence between the central region and the right temporal region. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores were also compared before and after receiving rTMS with positive effects shown on behavior.

Conclusion: These findings supported our hypothesis by demonstration of positive effects of combined rTMS neurotherapy in active treatment group as compared to the waitlist group, as the rTMS group showed significant improvements in behavioral and functional outcomes as compared to the waitlist group.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; coherence; electroencephalography; neuromodulation; peak alpha frequency; rTMS.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic presentation of rTMS modified from.41 About 5 min, EEG data were recorded before and after 18 sessions. Every participant received 18 sessions twice a week (1 Hz, 180 pulses every time)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes of iPAF after rTMS treatment. Significant increases were found in iPAF after rTMS treatment shown by red circles (*p < 0.05)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes of the coherence at alpha band for participants. *p < 0.05. (A) showed the coherence before receiving rTMS treatment; (B) showed the coherence after receiving rTMS treatment; (C) showed significant increase of coherence between Cz‐T8 and CPz‐C4 after rTMS treatment
Figure 4
Figure 4
Changes of Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores after rTMS as compared to the baseline levels in children with ASD, **p< 0.01
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