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Deep magnetic brain stimulation aimed at the front of the brain in autistic adults

Tests deep magnetic brain stimulation for social thinking in adults with autism.

Key facts

Who runs it
National Taiwan University Hospital
Where
Taipei, TaiwanSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Medial Prefrontal Cortex Brain Magnetic Stimulation in Autism
Status
Not yet recruiting
People taking part
20 people, planned
Starts
1 Dec 2026
Expected to end
31 Dec 2028
Type of study
Interventional
Treatments tested
  • TMS
Record updated
18 August 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 adults aged 18-45 with autism spectrum disorder. It tests deep magnetic brain stimulation aimed at a front brain area linked to social thinking.

Age
18-45 years
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder based on DSM-5-TR criteria.
Earlier treatment
No change of medications in the past three months. No electroconvulsive therapy or TMS in the past three months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Schizophrenia or substance use disorder
  • Major medical disease, such as cancer, severe heart, liver or kidney disease, or active infection
  • Major neurological disease, such as uncontrolled epilepsy, brain tumor or severe head trauma
  • Reasons why MRI or TMS is unsafe, such as metal in the head or neck, claustrophobia or past neurosurgery
  • Electroconvulsive therapy or TMS in the past three months

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 7 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Having a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder based on DSM-5-TR diagnosis criteria
  • Aged 18-45 years old
  • No change of medications in the past three months

Who cannot take part

  • Contraindications of MRI or TMS procedure: Ferromagnetic material in the skull, head, and neck; claustrophobia; had received neurosurgery, etc
  • Receiving electroconvulsive therapy or TMS in the past three months
  • Comorbidity of schizophrenia, substance use disorder,
  • Had major medical diseases (e.g., malignancy, severe cardiac, hepatic, renal diseases, or active CNS or systemic infection) or major neurological disease (e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, brain tumors or hemangioma, severe head trauma)

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 18 and 45 years old?

Where in Taiwan

  • Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University HospitalTaipei, TaiwanContact: Yi-Ling Chien, MD, PhDNo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

Despite decades of research, no definitive, effective biological treatments exist for core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Emerging evidence suggests that conventional Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or posterior superior temporal sulcus may reduce repetitive behaviors, but its efficacy on social communication remains inconsistent.

Read full original descriptionShow less

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) allows for the stimulation of deeper brain structures. Deep social brain networks, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), play a critical role in social cognition and mentalizing processes. Targeting the mPFC with dTMS holds potential for improving core impairments in social cognition among individuals with ASD. This pilot study aims to evaluate the efficacy of dTMS on social cognition, mPFC-related functional connectivity, and clinical symptoms (autism severity, stereotyped behaviors, sensory symptoms, and emotion regulation).

The group in the trial

  • TMS pilot groupTreatment being tested

    Each participant will receive one session of magnetic stimulation and undergo resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) before and after stimulation. Subsequently, they will receive magnetic stimulation once daily for 10 days, for a total of 10 sessions. On the day of the tenth stimulation session or within three days afterward, participants will undergo post-treatment assessment and brain MRI.

    Treatment: TMS

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
The Efficacy and Brain Mechanism of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Autism: A Pilot Study Targeting Medial Prefrontal Cortex
Plain-language title
Deep magnetic brain stimulation aimed at the front of the brain in autistic adultsGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT07770451, who can take part
Record updated
18 August 2026