ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Brain Imaging Methods
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2025.1582354
rTMS-induced neuroimaging changes measured with structural and functional MRI in Autism
Provisionally accepted
- 1The department of Sichuan 81 Rehabilitation Center, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- 2School of Big Health Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
- 3School of Computer and Software, Chengdu Jincheng College, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- 4Mental Health Education Center, Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- 5The People's Hospital of Baiyun District Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Effective therapeutic interventions for ASD remain scarce, prompting exploration into novel approaches such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). This study aimed to examine the impact of rTMS intervention on brain structure and function in children with ASD, addressing a gap in correlating neuroimaging changes with behavioral outcomes. Fourteen children diagnosed with ASD participated in an rTMS intervention study. Both neuroimaging data and behavioral assessment scores were collected pre- and post-intervention. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were conducted to evaluate changes in brain structure and function. Key findings revealed significant increases in gray matter volume (GMV) in the Vermis, Caudate, and Postcentral gyrus, and enhanced FC between Fusiform, Temporal, Frontal, and Precuneus regions following rTMS intervention. Correlation analysis revealed associations between changes in brain structure and function and behavioral scores, suggesting potential therapeutic effects of rTMS on cerebellar development and cognitive control in children with ASD. This study underscores the potential of rTMS as a promising intervention for ameliorating behavioral abnormalities in ASD, supported by its impact on brain structure and function. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to validate these findings and elucidate the mechanisms underlying rTMS-mediated improvements in ASD symptoms.
Keywords: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, Autism Spectrum Disorders, voxel-based morphometry, functional connectivity, Neuroimaging
Received: 24 Feb 2025; Accepted: 09 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kang, Chen, Wang, Mu, Lei, Zhang, Wang and Zhang. 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:
Kai Chen, School of Big Health Management, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
Tao Zhang, Mental Health Education Center, Xihua University, Chengdu, 610039, Sichuan Province, China
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