Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates long-range functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder

Yingxue Yang; Lin Jiang; Runyang He; Penghui Song; Peng Xu; Yuping Wang; Fali Li

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.021

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates long-range functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder

J Psychiatr Res. 2023 Apr:160:187-194. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.021. Epub 2023 Feb 21.

Authors

Yingxue Yang¹, Lin Jiang², Runyang He², Penghui Song¹, Peng Xu³, Yuping Wang⁴, Fali Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, 100053, China.
² The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China.
³ The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China; Research Unit of NeuroInformation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU035, Chengdu, China; Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, 610041, Chengdu, China.
⁴ Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Neuromodulation, Beijing, 100053, China. Electronic address: wangyyping@yeah.net.
⁵ The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China; School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China; Research Unit of NeuroInformation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU035, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: fali.li@uestc.edu.cn.

PMID: 36841084
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.02.021

Abstract

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is growingly applied in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to its potential therapeutic value, however, its effects on functional network configuration and the mechanism underlying clinical improvement are still unclear. In this study, we examined the alternations of functional connectivity induced by rTMS using resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) in children with ASD. Resting-state EEG was obtained from 24 children with ASD before and after rTMS intervention and from 24 age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) children. The rTMS intervention course consisted of five 5-s trains at 15 Hz, with 10-min inter-train intervals, on the left parietal lobe each consecutive weekday for 3 weeks (15 sessions in total). Children with ASD showed significantly hypo-connected networks and sub-optimal network properties at both global and local levels, compared with TD peers. After rTMS intervention, long-range intra- and inter-hemispheric connections were significantly promoted, especially those within the alpha band. Meanwhile, network properties at both local and global levels were greatly promoted in the delta, theta, and alpha bands. Consistent with the changes in the network connectivities and properties, the core symptoms in ASD were also relieved measured by clinical scales after treatment. The findings of this study demonstrate that high-frequency rTMS over the parietal lobe is potentially an effective strategy to improve core symptoms by enhancing long-range connectivity reorganization in ASD.

Keywords: ASD; Core ASD symptoms; EEG; Network configuration; rTMS treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Child
Electroencephalography
Humans
Parietal Lobe
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*