Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
EEG Mu Rhythm in Typical and Atypical Development
Published on: April 9, 2014
The Effect of pT-TMS on Beta Rhythm in Children with Autism Disorder. A MEG Study
Photios Anninos1, Athanasios Chatzimichael2, Nicolia Anninou1
1Laboratory of Medical Physics, Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, Alexandroupoli, Greece.
Insights
Pico Tesla transcranial magnetic stimulation (pT-TMS) positively impacted beta rhythm in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This neurostimulation approach showed promise in improving clinical symptoms and brain activity patterns in young patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction and communication.
- Beta rhythm alterations in the brain are observed in individuals with ASD.
- Pico Tesla transcranial magnetic stimulation (pT-TMS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique.
Discussion:
- This study explored the effects of pT-TMS on beta rhythm in children diagnosed with ASD.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) was utilized to measure brain activity before and after pT-TMS application.
- Observed changes in beta rhythm frequency (18-26 Hz) were analyzed in relation to clinical improvements.
Key Insights:
- pT-TMS application led to an increase in beta rhythm within the 18-26 Hz range in 70% of the pediatric participants.
- A significant correlation was found between the degree of beta rhythm enhancement and the improvement in clinical symptoms.
- All participants exhibited positive changes in their clinical presentation post-pT-TMS intervention.
Outlook:
- The findings suggest that pT-TMS is a potential therapeutic avenue for modulating brain activity in children with ASD.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms of pT-TMS and its long-term efficacy.
- Investigating larger cohorts and diverse age groups within the ASD population is recommended for broader validation.
Abstract:
We investigated the beta rhythm in 10 children with autism disorders (six boys and four girls) aged 5-12 (mean± SD: 8.3± 2.1) before and after the application of pico Tesla transcranial magnetic stimulation (pT-TMS) using magnetoencephalography (MEG). The MEG was car-ried out in a magnetically shielded room with a whole-head 122-channel gradiometer. After applying pT-TMS, we observed a beta rhythm increase towards the frequency range of 18-26 Hz in seven out of 10 patients (70%). We created a score that rated the level of improvement for each patient: 1=some change; 2=minor change; and 3=major change. All patients had an improvement in their clinical symptoms after the application of pT-TMS. There was a correlation between the clinical score and the increase of channels in the frequency range 18-26 Hz after pT-TMS. We concluded that the application of pT-TMS affected the beta rhythm in children with autism disorder. Therefore, more studies need to be further conducted.
More Related Videos
08:55Online Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Protocol for Measuring Cortical Physiology Associated with Response Inhibition
Published on: February 8, 2018
07:20Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024