title: Effects of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on gamma frequency oscillations and event-related potentials during processing of illusory figures in autism.
abstract: Previous studies by our group suggest that the neuropathology of autism is characterized by a disturbance of cortical modularity. In this model a decrease in the peripheral neuropil space of affected minicolumns provides for an inhibitory deficit and a readjustment in their signal to noise bias during information processing. In this study we proposed using low frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a way increasing the surround inhibition of minicolumns in autism. Thirteen patients (ADOS and ADI-R diagnosed) and equal number of controls participated in the study. Repetitive TMS was delivered at 0.5 Hz, 2 times per week for 3 weeks. Outcome measures based on event-related potentials (ERP), induced gamma activity, and behavioral measures showed significant post-TMS improvement. The results suggest that rTMS offers a potential therapeutic intervention for autism.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. tato.sokhadze@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Estate M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sokhadze
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Baz
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baruth
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.forename: Lonnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sears
authors.forename: Manuel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Casanova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult