Brain Stimulation Holds Promise in Autism Treatment

Autism Daily Newscast first reported on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) back in November of 2013. We wrote about the results of the first clinical trial using magnetic wave stimulation autistic people, show an encouraging boost in the development of social interactive skills after treatment.The study conducted by the Monash University in Melbourne Australia involved boosting brain waves in the frontal cortex using rTMS, or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Strong magnetic pulses were passed to the frontal cortex of the recipients brains. This part of the brain is proven to be under active in people with autism and ASDs.

Lat year, Peter Enticott at the  Deakin University shared with us his research using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) – a new type of brain stimulation – can improve some of the abnormalities in brain activity in ASD, but also reduce some of the social difficulties (including social understanding and anxiety). In ASD, rTMS can then be used to increase activity or “excite” brain cells in this network, which can have lasting effects on brain chemical systems that control brain activity. This can be thought of as a step toward correcting a dysfunctional brain network.