Brain stimulation over the right inferior frontal gyrus for autism spectrum disorder
Tests theta burst brain stimulation in children and young adults with autism.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
- Where
- Taoyuan, TaiwanSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Explore the Impacts of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Combination of Clinical Symptoms, Neuropsychological Function and MRI
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 60 people, planned
- Started
- 5 May 2026
- Expected to end
- 31 Dec 2030
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- intermittent theta burst stimulation
- Record updated
- 12 May 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for people aged 8 to 30 with autism spectrum disorder, level 1 or level 2. It tests a brain stimulation treatment (theta burst stimulation).
- Age
- 8 to 30 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Autism spectrum disorder confirmed by ADOS-2, with DSM-5 severity level 1 or level 2.
- Earlier treatment
- People must be on a stable treatment, or conventional treatment was judged ineffective by a physician, or they decline conventional treatment.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Severe neurological disorders such as epilepsy
- Metal implants such as a pacemaker or medication pump
- Pregnancy
- DSM-5 severity level 3, or current major depressive disorder
- Cannot have an MRI or EEG, or takes antiepileptic drugs or medicines that lower the seizure threshold
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 35 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Participants aged 8 to 30 years with a clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), confirmed by the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition)
- DSM-5 severity level of ASD: level 1 or level 2
- Participants who have been on a stable treatment regimen prior to the study, or those for whom conventional treatments have been assessed as ineffective by a physician, or those who decline conventional treatment
- A score of ≥ 15 on the University of California Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC) and demonstrated understanding of study aims and risks via the teach-back method
Who cannot take part
- Previous or current severe neurological disorders, especially epilepsy, visual or auditory impairments
- Previous or current severe systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or hypertension
- Previous or current severe brain injury
- Implementation of metal materials such as a pacemaker or medication pump
- Previous or current severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or substance abuse
- Previous brain surgery or central nerve system infection
- Concurrent use of medications which increased the risk of seizure attack
- Concurrent use of antiepileptic drugs
- Currently taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), analgesics, or any medications known to lower the seizure threshold; Withdrawal Criteria:
- Start to use antiepileptic drugs during study period
- Changes in the frequency or dosage of concurrent treatments during the study period
- Have experienced sleep disorders during brain stimulation
- Current major depressive disorder
- Seizure attack during the study period
- Pregnancy
- Presence of significant brain abnormalities, such as intracranial space-occupying lesions
- Participate in another clinical trial within one month
- With damaged skin at the stimulated region
- With multiple sclerosis
- With large ischemic scars
- Severe alcoholism
- Uncontrollable migraines due to increased intracranial pressure
- Unsuitable for MRI (e.g. those with claustrophobia)
- Unsuitable for EEG
- DSM-5 severity level of ASD: level 3
- Suicidal ideation within one year
- Autistic symptoms worsened obviously during the study period (change of DSM-5 severity level)
- Extreme agitation or irritability during the study period
- Participants request
- Clinical symptoms worsened obviously during study period
- Suicidal ideation or self-harm behaviors during study period
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 8 and 30 years old?
Where in Taiwan
- Chang Gung Memorial HospitalTaoyuan, TaiwanContact: Hsing Chang Ni, PhDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
Exploring the therapeutic efficacy of Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS) over the right inferior frontal gyrus (RIFG) in autism, including changes in core symptoms, adaptive functioning, neuropsychological performance, and neurophysiological signals.
The 2 groups in the trial
- ActiveTreatment being tested
Participants received the intervention of iTBS (The total pulse of every session is 600 pulses) over right inferior frontal gyrus for 4 weeks (5 days/week). \*iTBS = intermittent theta burst stimulation
Treatment: intermittent theta burst stimulation
- ShamSham treatment, for comparison
Participants received the sham intervention of iTBS (sham-coil) over right inferior frontal gyrus for 4 weeks (5 days/week).
Treatment: intermittent theta burst stimulation
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?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Explore the Impacts of Theta Burst Stimulation Over the Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Combination of Clinical Symptoms, Neuropsychological Function and MRI
- Plain-language title
- Brain stimulation over the right inferior frontal gyrus for autism spectrum disorderGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT07579494, who can take part
- Record updated
- 12 May 2026