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.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Medial Prefrontal Cortex Brain Magnetic Stimulation in Autism
Key facts
- Where
- Taipei, TaiwanSee the site
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 18 and 45 years old?
Source: NCT07770451, who can take part
Where in Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University HospitalTaipei, TaiwanNo 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
- National Taiwan University Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07770451
- Record updated
- 18 August 2026
- Original description
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
The Efficacy and Brain Mechanism of Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Autism: A Pilot Study Targeting Medial Prefrontal Cortex
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.
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).
Inclusion: 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.
Exclusion: 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).