Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Study for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Last updated: April 3, 2025
Sponsor: Yale University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd)

Asperger's Disorder

Autism

Treatment

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Clinical Study ID

NCT04936009
2000030576
Proposal No. AR200174
  • Ages 18-40
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

This is a randomized interventional study designed to evaluate the effects of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) on neural and behavioral facets of social cognition in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 years old with typical development or witha diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

  • Individuals able to participate in an EEG and eye-tracking experiment.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants reporting significant head trauma or serious brain illness.

  • Participants with major psychiatric illness that would preclude completion of studymeasures.

  • Participants with a history of serious medical illness, stroke, seizures,epileptiform EEG abnormalities, or family history of seizures.

  • Participants taking prescription medications that may affect cognitive processesunder study.

  • Participants who have taken alcohol or recreational drugs within the preceding 24hours.

  • Females of known/suspected pregnancy or who test positive on a pregnancy test.

  • Participants with a history of metalworking or injury by shrapnel or metallicobjects are also excluded.

  • Participants with a history of prior TMS therapy or use of an investigational drugwithin 12 weeks of visit.

  • Participants with an IQ (intelligence quotient) below 80.

Study Design

Total Participants: 60
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Phase:
Study Start date:
March 17, 2022
Estimated Completion Date:
January 01, 2026

Study Description

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether rTMS increases the brain response to faces in a population of adults with ASD. This study will assess critical aspects of social cognition using the electroencephalogram (EEG), event-related potentials (ERPS), and eye-tracking (ET) prior to and following a single rTMS session (or Sham) to provide preliminary insight into the potential of rTMS as a tool to modify social brain function in this population.

Participant visits will include a baseline assessment of neuropsychological, cognitive and behavioral function, and a pre and post TMS session with EEG (electroencephalogram) and eye-tracking to measure neural and visual attentional social response. Two study visits will be scheduled for each participant lasting approximately 4-5hrs total.

Connect with a study center

  • Yale University Child Study Center

    New Haven, Connecticut 06520
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.