Skip to main content

OPINION article

Front. Hum. Neurosci., 06 January 2015
Sec. Brain Imaging and Stimulation
This article is part of the Research Topic The Safety and Efficacy of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Development and Neurodevelopmental Disorders View all 10 articles

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for autism: an international consensus conference held in conjunction with the international meeting for autism research on May 13th and 14th, 2014

  • 1Neuroplasticity and Autism Spectrum Disorder Program, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, E.P. Bradley Hospital and Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
  • 2Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
  • 3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
  • 4Neuromodulation Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
  • 5Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
  • 6Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently estimate the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the U.S. at 1:68 children (Baio, 2014). Despite decades of research across multiple levels of analysis, we currently lack a reliable biomarker that may facilitate diagnosis, illuminate pathophysiology, or guide treatment. The development of novel treatment strategies for ASD will require efforts for better clinical characterization, identification of more homogeneous subgroups for studies, and improved understanding of underlying pathophysiology. There is growing support for early intensive interventions in this population (Reichow, 2012). Pharmacological treatments have been shown to be effective in treating some of the common secondary and comorbid features of ASD (Hampson et al., 2012), but there is currently no pharmacotherapy conclusively shown to improve the core symptoms (Oberman, 2012).

Recently a number of investigators have begun to explore the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a tool to characterize ASD pathophysiology, and to test its therapeutic potential. TMS is a safe and well-tolerated method for non-invasive focal cortical stimulation where small intracranial electrical currents are generated by a rapidly fluctuating extracranial magnetic field. In an effort to share recent progress in the use of TMS in ASD, promote collaboration across laboratories, and establish consensus on parameters that may be useful for the study of pathophysiology and the potential treatment of ASD, leading experts in the field gathered in Atlanta, GA on May 13th and 14th 2014 for the “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy for Autism Consensus Conference” organized and supported by the Clearly Present Foundation with additional support from Neuronetics, Inc. and Autism Speaks.

Alvaro Pascual-Leone began the conference by discussing the basic mechanisms and safety of TMS in clinical populations. TMS can be applied in single pulses to investigate corticospinal excitability, pairs of pulses to study intracortical inhibition and facilitation, and repeated trains of TMS (rTMS) to both to study and therapeutically modulate excitability and plasticity in a number of neurological and psychiatric conditions (Kobayashi and Pascual-Leone, 2003). The effects of rTMS can be expected to differ considerably by virtue of varying parameters of stimulation and knowledge of underlying symptom pathophysiology. TMS is considered quite safe if applied within current safety guidelines; however, it does pose some risk for adverse side-effects (Rossi et al., 2009). Though relatively few patients with ASD have participated in TMS protocols, the frequency and quality of side-effects shown thus far approximates that seen in the general population (Oberman et al., 2013). As with any other condition, factors including medications and medical history need to be assessed when determining risk for an individual. There are currently no identified ASD-specific risk factors for TMS-induced adverse effects. Even though ASD can be associated with an increased risk for seizures, in TMS studies to date, there is no evidence of increased epileptogenic risk in ASD when safety guidelines and recommendations are followed.

Manuel Casanova then provided a targeted review of the literature on the pathophysiology of ASD. Postmortem studies have shown evidence of abnormalities of neuronal migration in the brains of individuals with ASD (Bailey et al., 1998), which include displaced neurons manifesting as focal cortical dysplasias in a majority of individuals with ASD (Casanova et al., 2013). Morphometric analysis of cells within the malformed cortex has suggested a reduced number of interneurons (Casanova et al., 2013). This is consistent with previous reports of abnormalities in ASD within the peripheral cortical minicolumn neuropil space, the compartment where most inhibitory cells are located (Casanova et al., 2002). Both EEG and vibrotactile studies corroborate a deficit of cortical lateral inhibition (Keita et al., 2011; Puts et al., 2014). He proposed that this deficit could account for the seizures and sensory abnormalities often reported in ASD.

Lindsay Oberman discussed the use of TMS as an investigative device to study cortical excitability and plasticity in ASD. These studies show that a number of basic mechanisms and circuits are atypical while other measures appear to be normal (see Oberman et al., 2013). Specifically, motor thresholds and baseline motor-cortical excitability measures appear to be normal. There is heterogeneity in the response to paired-pulse paradigms with impaired inhibition in some individuals, typical response in others, and paradoxical facilitation in another subgroup. Studies exploring corticospinal plasticity mechanisms, using two different rTMS protocols [theta burst stimulation (TBS) and paired associative stimulation (PAS)], have shown abnormalities. However, the direction of the abnormality is unclear with TBS studies showing enhanced response (Oberman et al., 2012) and PAS showing reduced response (Jung et al., 2013). There are a number of open questions related to the use of TMS as an investigative device in ASD including developmental effects, effects related to intellectual disability and functioning, and what underlying mechanisms are driving the observed heterogeneity in the population.

Peter Enticott discussed the efficacy of rTMS as a therapeutic intervention in ASD. A number of studies using low-frequency rTMS in an effort to enhance cortical inhibitory tone in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex have resulted in improvements in EEG indices of attention, information processing, and error monitoring as well as behavioral improvements in repetitive behaviors and irritability (Sokhadze et al., 2014). Low-frequency stimulation to left pars triangularis resulted in improved object naming in a single session study (Fecteau et al., 2011). High-frequency stimulation, designed to enhance excitability, has suggested improvements in self-reported social relating and social anxiety following medial prefrontal cortex stimulation (Enticott et al., 2014) and significant improvements in eye-hand coordination following premotor stimulation (Panerai et al., 2013). Although an emerging literature, these studies collectively provide support for the potential efficacy of rTMS in ASD (Oberman et al., 2013). However, the small study samples, lack of blind assessments, and limited use of control or comparison conditions limit the interpretation of these early investigations.

James McCracken concluded the conference by discussing key factors to consider when designing clinical trials for ASD. These factors included identification of valid and reliable endpoints, incorporation of blind assessments, need for credible control conditions, establishment of effective stimulation parameters, need to relate changes in electrophysiologic endpoints to functional change, and identification of biomarkers that can be used to reduce the heterogeneity of the sample and stratify participants to treatment strategies that are best matched to their underlying pathophysiology. To this end, those present discussed the utility of developing functional imaging and TMS indices as potential standardized biomarkers and the need for larger, multisite trials to establish validity of these measures across development and levels of functioning and reliability of these measures across centers.

At the conclusion of the conference, there was enthusiasm for the potential use of TMS in ASD. Further work is necessary to achieve consensus on the key factors discussed by Dr. McCracken, but the expertise and commitment is present in the research and clinical community to work toward the end goal of designing and implementing large-scale, double blind, multisite clinical trials of rTMS for ASD in the near future. Those present committed to collaborate across laboratories to establish mutually agreed upon protocols and to meet again within 1 year.

Author Contributions

Lindsay M. Oberman, Peter G. Enticott, Manuel F. Casanova, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, and James T. McCracken contributed to the organization of the conference, were invited speakers to the conference, and lead the discussion during the conference. Alexander Rotenberg contributed to the organization of the conference, and the discussion during the conference. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Alvaro Pascual-Leone serves on the scientific advisory boards for Nexstim, Neuronix, Starlab Neuroscience, Axilum Robotics, Magstim, Neuroelectrics, and Neosync; and is listed as an inventor on several issued and pending patents on the real-time integration of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Alexander Rotenberg is listed as an inventor on a patent for apparatus and method of use of TMS in epilepsy. He is a co-founder of Neuromotion Inc. This conference was supported by the Clearly Present Foundation, Autism Speaks, and Neuronetics, Inc. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgment

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Clearly Present Foundation, Autism Speaks, or Neuronetics, Inc.

References

Bailey, A., Luthert, P., Dean, A., Harding, B., Janota, I., Montgomery, M., et al. (1998). A clinicopathological study of autism. Brain 121 (Pt 5), 889–905. doi: 10.1093/brain/121.5.889

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Baio, J. (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years-autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2010. MMWR Surveill. Summ. 63, 1–21.

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text

Casanova, M. F., Buxhoeveden, D. P., Switala, A. E., and Roy, E. (2002). Minicolumnar pathology in autism. Neurology 58, 428–432. doi: 10.1212/WNL.58.3.428

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Casanova, M. F., El-Baz, A. S., Kamat, S. S., Dombroski, B. A., Khalifa, F., Elnakib, A., et al. (2013). Focal cortical dysplasias in autism spectrum disorders. Acta Neuropathol. Commun. 1:67. doi: 10.1186/2051-5960-1-67

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Enticott, P. G., Fitzgibbon, B. M., Kennedy, H. A., Arnold, S. L., Elliot, D., Peachey, A., et al. (2014). A double-blind, randomized trial of deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for autism spectrum disorder. Brain Stimul. 7, 206–211. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2013.10.004

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Fecteau, S., Agosta, S., Oberman, L., and Pascual-Leone, A. (2011). Brain stimulation over Broca's area differentially modulates naming skills in neurotypical adults and individuals with Asperger's syndrome. Eur. J. Neurosci. 34, 158–164. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07726.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hampson, D. R., Gholizadeh, S., and Pacey, L. K. (2012). Pathways to drug development for autism spectrum disorders. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 91, 189–200. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.245

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Jung, N. H., Janzarik, W. G., Delvendahl, I., Munchau, A., Biscaldi, M., Mainberger, F., et al. (2013). Impaired induction of long-term potentiation-like plasticity in patients with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome. Dev. Med. Child Neurol. 55, 83–89. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12012

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keita, L., Mottron, L., Dawson, M., and Bertone, A. (2011). Atypical lateral connectivity: a neural basis for altered visuospatial processing in autism. Biol. Psychiatry 70, 806–811. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.07.031

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kobayashi, M., and Pascual-Leone, A. (2003). Transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurology. Lancet Neurol. 2, 145–156. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(03)00321-1

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Oberman, L., Eldaief, M., Fecteau, S., Ifert-Miller, F., Tormos, J. M., and Pascual-Leone, A. (2012). Abnormal modulation of corticospinal excitability in adults with Asperger's syndrome. Eur. J. Neurosci. 36, 2782–2788. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08172.x

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Oberman, L. M. (2012). mGluR antagonists and GABA agonists as novel pharmacological agents for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs 21, 1819–1825. doi: 10.1517/13543784.2012.729819

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Oberman, L. M., Rotenberg, A., and Pascual-Leone, A. (2013). Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in autism spectrum disorders. J. Autism Dev. Disord. doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-1960-2. [Epub ahead of print].

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Panerai, S., Tasca, D., Lanuzza, B., Trubia, G., Ferri, R., Musso, S., et al. (2013). Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in performing eye-hand integration tasks: four preliminary studies with children showing low-functioning autism. Autism 18, 638–650. doi: 10.1177/1362361313495717

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Puts, N. A., Wodka, E. L., Tommerdahl, M., Mostofsky, S. H., and Edden, R. A. (2014). Impaired tactile processing in children with autism spectrum disorder. J. Neurophysiol. 111, 1803–1811. doi: 10.1152/jn.00890.2013

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Reichow, B. (2012). Overview of meta-analyses on early intensive behavioral intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 42, 512–520. doi: 10.1007/s10803-011-1218-9

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Rossi, S., Hallett, M., Rossini, P. M., Pascual-Leone, A., and Safety Of, T. M. S. C. G. (2009). Safety, ethical considerations, and application guidelines for the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in clinical practice and research. Clin. Neurophysiol. 120, 2008–2039. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2009.08.016

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Sokhadze, E. M., El-Baz, A. S., Sears, L. L., Opris, I., and Casanova, M. F. (2014). rTMS neuromodulation improves electrocortical functional measures of information processing and behavioral responses in autism. Front. Syst. Neurosci. 8:134. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00134

Pubmed Abstract | Pubmed Full Text | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, transcranial magnetic stimulation, pathophysiology, therapy, consensus

Citation: Oberman LM, Enticott PG, Casanova MF, Rotenberg A, Pascual-Leone A and McCracken JT (2015) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for autism: an international consensus conference held in conjunction with the international meeting for autism research on May 13th and 14th, 2014. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 8:1034. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.01034

Received: 12 November 2014; Accepted: 09 December 2014;
Published online: 06 January 2015.

Edited by:

Rachael D. Seidler, University of Michigan, USA

Reviewed by:

Jorge Leon Morales-Quezada, Laboratory of Neuromodulation, USA

Copyright © 2015 Oberman, Enticott, Casanova, Rotenberg, Pascual-Leone and McCracken. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: loberman@lifespan.org

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.