scholarly journals Broken or socially-mistuned mirror neurons in autism? An investigation via transcranial magnetic stimulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jellina Prinsen ◽  
Kaat Alaerts
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Mirror Neuron System ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Hand Movements ◽  
Action Execution ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Averted Gaze

Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience persistent difficulties during social interactions and communication. Previously, it has been suggested that deficits in the so-called ‘mirror neuron system’ (MNS), active during both action execution and observation, may underlie these social difficulties. It is still a topic of debate however whether deficiencies in the simulation of others’ actions (i.e. “broken” mirroring) forms a general feature of ASD, or whether these mostly reflect a lack of social attunement. The latter would suggest an overall intact MNS, but an impaired modulation of MNS activity according to variable social contexts. In this study, 25 adults with ASD and 28 age- and IQ-matched control participants underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during the observation of hand movements under variable conditions. Hand movements were presented via a live interaction partner, either without social context to assess basic motor mirroring, or in combination with direct and averted gaze from the acting model to assess socially modulated mirroring. Overall, no significant group differences were revealed, indicating no differential in MNS activity in ASD, compared to controls. Interestingly however, regression analyses revealed that, among ASD participants, higher social symptom severity was associated with both reduced basic motor mirroring and aberrant socially modulated mirroring (i.e. no enhancement of MNS activity upon direct vs. averted gaze). These findings further challenge the notion that MNS dysfunctions constitute a principal feature of ASD, but that variations in MNS function are related to differential expressions of (social) symptom severity.

scholarly journals Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in autism spectrum disorder: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e046830
Author(s):  
Peter G Enticott ◽  
Karen Barlow ◽  
Adam J Guastella ◽  
Melissa K Licari ◽  
Nigel C Rogasch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionThere are no well-established biomedical treatments for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A small number of studies suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, may improve clinical and cognitive outcomes in ASD. We describe here the protocol for a funded multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial to investigate whether a course of rTMS to the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), which has demonstrated abnormal brain activation in ASD, can improve social communication in adolescents and young adults with ASD.Methods and analysisThis study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 4-week course of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS, a variant of rTMS) in ASD. Participants meeting criteria for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition ASD (n=150, aged 14–40 years) will receive 20 sessions of either active iTBS (600 pulses) or sham iTBS (in which a sham coil mimics the sensation of iTBS, but no active stimulation is delivered) to the rTPJ. Participants will undergo a range of clinical, cognitive, epi/genetic, and neurophysiological assessments before and at multiple time points up to 6 months after iTBS. Safety will be assessed via a structured questionnaire and adverse event reporting. The study will be conducted from November 2020 to October 2024.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Monash Health (Melbourne, Australia) under Australia’s National Mutual Acceptance scheme. The trial will be conducted according to Good Clinical Practice, and findings will be written up for scholarly publication.Trial registration numberAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000890932).

scholarly journals Study of the role of the transcranial magnetic stimulation on language progress in autism spectrum disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed E. Darwish ◽  
Heba W. El-Beshlawy ◽  
Ehab S. Ramadan ◽  
Shimaa M. Serag
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Language Therapy ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Group I ◽  
Mild Improvement ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are almost universally delayed in the acquisition of spoken language as primary means of communication so they tend to have restricted outcomes in terms of independence and integration. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a promising, emerging tool for the study (study and modulate excitability and plasticity, applied in single pulses to investigate corticospinal excitability, pairs of pulses to study intracortical inhibition and facilitation) and potential treatment of ASD. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of repetitive TMS in language progress in children with ASD. Results There was a statistically significant clinical improvement in patients receiving active TMS (group I) comparing baseline Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) assessment and after treatment (P ≤ 0.05). There was mild improvement with no significant difference between the patients receiving active TMS (group I) and those of sham TMS (group II), and both groups received language therapy as regard post-treatment CARS. There was significant difference in improvement between the two groups according to eye contact (P ≤ 0.05). There was significant improvement in response to examiner (P ≤ 0.05). There was mild improvement with no statistically significant difference in attention between the two groups. There was significant difference in improvement between the two groups according to active expressive language. There was no statistically significant difference in passive vocabulary between the two groups. Conclusion Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left inferior frontal gyrus may be a safe and effective way of improving language of ASD. The joint application of rTMS and standard language therapy may lead to more rapid improvement in the language progress of children with ASD.

scholarly journals Attenuation of antidepressive effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients whose medication includes drugs for psychosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1119-1124
Author(s):  
Tobias Hebel ◽  
Mohamed Abdelnaim ◽  
Markus Deppe ◽  
Berthold Langguth ◽  
Martin Schecklmann
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Number Needed To Treat ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Small Effect Size ◽  
Severity Of Depression ◽  
Antidepressive Effects

Objective: To assess whether concomitant antipsychotic treatment has an influence on the antidepressive effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Methods: We analyzed severity of depression before and after treatment with rTMS in a sample of 299 depressed in- and outpatients in retrospect in relation to treatment with drugs for psychosis. The sample consisted of real-life patients in a tertiary hospital. We ran group contrasts between the group taking and the group not taking drugs for psychosis, testing for differences in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Effect sizes for HDRS group contrasts were reported as Cohen’s d and number needed to treat (NNT) calculated from d. To control for group differences we repeated the Student t-tests for the change in the HDRS using analysis of covariance including confounding variables. Results: Depressed patients taking drugs for psychosis showed significantly less amelioration of depressive symptoms after rTMS treatment as measured by absolute and relative change in HDRS with small effect size or NNT of 4.5 to 8.4, respectively. Controlling significant group contrasts revealed that the effect of taking drugs for psychosis does not depend on age, number of applied TMS pulses, type or severity of depression at baseline, comorbidities or differences in the intake of additional medication. Conclusion: Drugs for psychosis attenuate antidepressive effects of rTMS independently of confounding factors. The effect is statistically significant and of potentially great clinical importance. The exact mechanism remains to be elucidated and further studies are warranted.

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