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Updated: Mar 11, 2026
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
A combined study of MEG and pico-Tesla TMS on children with autism disorder
Photios Anninos1, Athanasios Chatzimichael2, Adam Adamopoulos1
1* Laboratory of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Greece.
Insights
Pico-Tesla Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (pT-TMS) shows promise for autism management. This noninvasive treatment led to improved brain activity and normalized MEG recordings in 60% of autistic children studied.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a neuroimaging technique used to measure magnetic fields produced by electrical activity in the brain.
- Current management strategies for autism have limitations, necessitating exploration of novel therapeutic avenues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of pico-Tesla Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (pT-TMS) in modulating brain activity in children with autism.
- To assess the impact of pT-TMS on Magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings in autistic children.
- To evaluate pT-TMS as a potential noninvasive therapeutic intervention for autism.
Main Methods:
- Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings were obtained from 10 children diagnosed with autism (ages 5-12).
- A double-blind experimental design was employed, administering external pT-TMS with specific field characteristics (1-7.5 pT amplitude, 8-13 Hz frequency).
- Statistical analysis was performed on MEG data to determine the significance of pT-TMS effects.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in brain frequencies within the 2-7 Hz range was observed post-pT-TMS treatment.
- MEG recordings showed improvement and normalization in a majority of the participants (60%).
- An increase in alpha activity was noted one month after the pT-TMS treatment, even when administered at home.
Conclusions:
- pT-TMS demonstrates potential as a noninvasive and safe therapeutic modality for managing autism in children.
- The observed normalization of MEG recordings suggests a positive impact on neural function.
- Further research into pT-TMS could lead to significant advancements in autism treatment strategies.
Abstract:
Magnetoencephalographic (MEG) recordings from the brain of 10 children with autism (6 boys and 4 girls, with ages range from 5-12 years, mean[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]SD: 8.3[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]2.1) were obtained using a whole-head 122-channel MEG system in a magnetically shielded room of low magnetic noise. A double-blind experimental design was used in order to look for possible effect of external pico-Tesla Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (pT-TMS). The pT-TMS was applied on the brain of the autistic children with proper field characteristics (magnetic field amplitude: 1-7.5[Formula: see text]pT, frequency: the alpha - rhythm of the patient 8-13[Formula: see text]Hz). After unblinding it was found a significant effect of an increase of frequencies in the range of 2-7[Formula: see text]Hz across the subjects followed by an improvement and normalization of their MEG recordings. The statistical analysis of our results showed a statistical significance at 6 out of 10 patients (60%). It is also observed an increase of alpha activity in autistic children at the end of one month after pT-TMS treatment at home. In conclusion, the application of pT-TMS has the prospective to be a noninvasive, safe and important modality in the management of autism children.
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