NCT04936009

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Study for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation to Treat Core Social Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Yale University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This is a randomized interventional study designed to evaluate the effects of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on neural and behavioral facets of social cognition in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Detailed description

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether rTMS increases the brain response to faces in a population of adults with ASD. This study will assess critical aspects of social cognition using the electroencephalogram (EEG), event-related potentials (ERPS), and eye-tracking (ET) prior to and following a single rTMS session (or Sham) to provide preliminary insight into the potential of rTMS as a tool to modify social brain function in this population. Participant visits will include a baseline assessment of neuropsychological, cognitive and behavioral function, and a pre and post TMS session with EEG (electroencephalogram) and eye-tracking to measure neural and visual attentional social response. Two study visits will be scheduled for each participant lasting approximately 4-5hrs total.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)	Subjects will receive both active and sham TMS in a randomized crossover assignment involving two study sessions

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-03-17
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2027-07-01
• First posted: 2021-06-23
• Last updated: 2026-02-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States