Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | Effects of tDCS on Neural Activity and Symptoms of ASD in Adolescents |
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| Contribution code | D2.028 |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Background & Aims: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous disorder marked by impaired social functioning. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a promising therapeutic tool, showing encouraging results in individuals with ASD. This double-blind, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial examined the long-term effects of tDCS combined with an intrastimulation social cognition training on ASD symptoms in adolescents with ASD. It also assessed changes in neural activation during social cognition tasks before and after the intervention. Methods: Twenty-two male adolescents with ASD (mean age 14.1 ± 1.9 years) were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of anodal tDCS (2 mA for 20 minutes) or sham stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while engaging in a social cognition training. Functional MRI data were collected before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in brain activity during social cognition tasks. Parent-rated questionnaires were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Data preprocessing, modeling, and statistical analyses were conducted using R and SPM12. Results & Conclusion: Both the active and sham groups showed significant improvements in ASD symptoms over time (F [2.12,42.44] = 32.69, p < 0.001). Notably, specific changes in neural activation in the right gyrus postcentralis occurred in the active but not in the sham group during a social cognition task. These findings suggest that the combination of tDCS and social cognition training may induce task-specific changes in neural activity. Further research is required to explore the underlying mechanisms of tDCS on brain activation. |