[Cerebral neuromodulation in neurodevelopmental disorders]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Neurology

Background:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders impact cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning throughout life.
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder are key examples with emerging neurobiological insights.
• Non-invasive brain stimulation is being explored as a complementary therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for neurodevelopmental disorders.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of these methods in pediatric populations.
• To identify areas for future research and standardization.

Main Methods:

• Review of current evidence on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
• Focus on modulation of cortical excitability and synaptic plasticity.
• Analysis of studies targeting neural networks involved in executive functions and socio-emotional processing.

Main Results:

• rTMS and tDCS can safely modulate brain activity in children and adolescents.
• Prefrontal cortex stimulation, especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, may enhance executive functions and reduce symptoms.
• Both techniques demonstrate favorable safety and tolerability profiles.

Conclusions:

• Non-invasive brain stimulation is a promising adjunctive therapy for neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Stimulation of the prefrontal cortex shows potential for improving core symptoms.
• Standardized, large-scale clinical trials are essential to optimize parameters and confirm efficacy.