Brain stimulation to test sensory processing in children with autism
Tests brain stimulation against a sham treatment in children with autism.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Brain Stimulation and Sensory Integration in Children With ASD
Key facts
- Where
- Almaty, KazakhstanSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 6 and 12 years old?
Source: NCT07182331, who can take part
Where in Kazakhstan
- Neurolab PlusAlmaty, KazakhstanNo longer taking part
- Non-profit joint-stock company "Al-Farabi Kazakh National University"Almaty, KazakhstanNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Neurolab Plus
- Trial code
- NCT07182331
- Record updated
- 19 September 2025
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if brain stimulation can help improve sensory integration in children ages 6 to 12 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main questions it aims to answer are:Read full original descriptionShow less
Effects of cTBS on Sensory Integration in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Study Integrating Genetic Markers, MRI, fNIRS, and Temporal Binding Tasks
The goal of this clinical trial is to find out if brain stimulation can help improve sensory integration in children ages 6 to 12 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does brain stimulation using continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) on bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improve how children process sights and sounds together? Can brain functioning, structure, and genetics help predict who responds best to this treatment?
Researchers will compare the results of the randomly assigned active brain stimulation to sham (inactive) stimulation groups to see if the treatment works.
Participants will:
Receive 10 sessions of either active or sham cTBS over 2 weeks Complete a sensory task involving flashes and beeps before and after stimulation Take part in brain scans, namely magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and provide a saliva sample for genetic testing
Inclusion: Children aged 6-12 years at the time of enrollment; Clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R); Intelligence quotient (IQ) ≥ 70 as measured by the General Ability Index (GAI) from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V); Ability to understand and follow simple instructions for behavioral tasks and stimulation procedures; Stable medication regimen (if any) for at least 4 weeks before the start of the study; Written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian, and assent from the child when appropriate.
Exclusion: Presence of metal implants, devices, or foreign bodies in or near the head (except dental fillings) that are contraindicated for TMS or MRI; History of epilepsy, seizures, or abnormal EEG suggestive of seizure risk; Serious neurological disorders other than ASD (e.g., cerebral palsy, brain injury, neurodegenerative disease); Severe psychiatric disorders requiring hospitalization or urgent intervention; Current or past history of significant head trauma with loss of consciousness > 5 minutes; Uncorrected hearing or vision problems that could interfere with task performance; Inability to tolerate sitting still for 15-20 minutes; Participation in another interventional clinical trial within the past 3 months.