Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neurostimulation technique that uses electromagnetic induction to stimulate targeted areas of the brain. In TMS, a magnetic coil is placed on the scalp over the targeted area of the brain, and a brief magnetic field is applied to the area. This induces a small electrical current in the brain, which can either activate or inhibit neural activity, depending on the parameters of the stimulation.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was first developed in the mid-1980s as a non-invasive method of stimulating the brain. It was initially used as a diagnostic tool for evaluating the function of the motor cortex in patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dystonia. However, researchers soon discovered that TMS could also be used to treat a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The development of repetitive TMS (rTMS) allowed for longer-lasting effects on brain activity, leading to the possibility of using rTMS as a therapeutic tool. Since then, rTMS has been investigated for its potential use in treating a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Repetitive TMS (rTMS) is a specific type of TMS in which repeated pulses of magnetic stimulation are delivered to a targeted area of the brain over a period of time. This is believed to induce longer-lasting changes in neural activity compared to single-pulse TMS.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when other depression treatments haven't been effective. This treatment for depression involves delivering repetitive magnetic pulses, so it's called repetitive TMS or rTMS.

How it works?

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During an rTMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression. It's thought to activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity in depression.

Though the biology of why rTMS works isn't completely understood, the stimulation appears to impact how the brain is working, which in turn seems to ease depression symptoms and improve mood.

There are different ways to perform the procedure, and techniques may change as experts learn more about the most effective ways to perform treatments.

Some studies have shown that rTMS can lead to improvements in language skills, social communication, and behavioral symptoms in individuals with ASD. However, the evidence is still limited and further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of TMS in the treatment of ASD.

There have been several scientific publications on the use of rTMS in the treatment of ASD. Here are some examples:

Enticott, P. G., Fitzgibbon, B. M., Kennedy, H. A., Arnold, S. L., Elliot, D., Peachey, A., ... & Fitzgerald, P. B. (2013). A double‐blind, randomized trial of deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for autism spectrum disorder. Brain stimulation, 6(5), 744-751.

This study investigated the effectiveness of deep rTMS in improving social functioning and repetitive behaviors in adults with ASD. The results showed some improvement in social functioning, but not in repetitive behaviors.

Casanova, M. F., Baruth, J. M., El-Baz, A. S., Tasman, A., Sears, L., & Sokhadze, E. M. (2012). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates event-related potential (ERP) indices of attention in autism. Translational neuroscience, 3(2), 170-180.

This study looked at the effects of rTMS on attention in children with ASD. The results showed that rTMS had a positive effect on attentional processes, as measured by changes in event-related potentials.

Sokhadze, E. M., El-Baz, A. S., Baruth, J. M., Mathai, G., Sears, L., & Casanova, M. F. (2009). Effects of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on gamma frequency oscillations and event-related potentials during processing of illusory figures in autism. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 39(4), 619-634.

This study investigated the effects of low-frequency rTMS on gamma frequency oscillations and event-related potentials in children with ASD during the processing of illusory figures. The results showed that rTMS had a positive effect on these measures, suggesting that it may have potential as a therapeutic intervention for ASD.

Overall, while there is still limited research on the use of rTMS in the treatment of ASD, these studies suggest that it may have some potential as a therapeutic intervention. However, more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness and potential applications.