In this full article, you will read about a novel approach to therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by combining personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (PrTMS) with electroencephalogram (EEG) guidance. ASD is characterized by core deficits in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. While pharmacological interventions alleviate some symptoms, they do not target core deficits effectively and often have adverse effects. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is intensive and effective but can be costly and harsh.
The hypothesis posits that ASD may arise from dysregulated excitatory versus inhibitory circuits in the brain, leading to altered oscillatory neuronal activity and disrupted mesolimbic dopamine-mediated brain reward signaling. PrTMS, guided by spectral EEG, aims to normalize this imbalance and facilitate improved psychosocial behavior. The personalized nature of PrTMS involves frequent updates of cortical stimulation sites and frequencies based on EEG and neurocognitive tests.
The article discusses studies indicating the potential efficacy of rTMS in ASD, suggesting improvement in cognitive outcomes and social indices. It also highlights the importance of individualized treatment, as demonstrated by studies using personalized rTMS frequencies based on alpha power and connectivity.
The potential clinical implementation involves evaluating ASD patients through physiological and genetic tests to determine treatment suitability. PrTMS targets multiple cortical sites, aiming for a less disruptive and more effective approach compared to standard rTMS. The article also suggests exploring the applicability of PrTMS to related syndromes like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Parkinson's Disease (PD), which share some underlying mechanisms with ASD.
Overall, the proposed approach of personalized rTMS guided by EEG holds promise for enhancing ASD therapy and potentially making it more accessible and affordable. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to validate its effectiveness and safety.
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