Autism & Brain Stimulation: Boosting Cognitive Flexibility
- A novel, noninvasive therapy may offer relief for some autistic traits, specifically those related to social interaction, mental flexibility, and visual perception.
- the study, published in Nature Neuroscience, involved over 40 adults with mild autism.
- Takamitsu Watanabe, a psychiatrist and cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Tokyo, saeid he became interested in ASD after listening to his patients.he noted that many autistic traits...
Noninvasive brain stimulation shows promise in boosting cognitive flexibility and easing autistic traits, according to a recent study. Researchers found that by targeting neural rigidity, they could improve social interaction and perception challenges. This innovative approach offers new hope for those with autism spectrum disorder, marking a significant step toward effective treatments. This is just one of the many groundbreaking discoveries covered by News Directory 3, offering vital updates on neurological advancements. Witnessing this progress, one has to ask: what other treatments are on the horizon?
Brain Stimulation Shows Promise for Autism treatment, Cognitive Flexibility
A novel, noninvasive therapy may offer relief for some autistic traits, specifically those related to social interaction, mental flexibility, and visual perception. Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Hamamatsu University found that stimulating nerve cells when the brain is “stuck” can improve flexibility and ease certain autistic behaviors. The method uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), already used for mood disorders, in a new way.
the study, published in Nature Neuroscience, involved over 40 adults with mild autism. The therapeutic effects lasted up to two months after the final session. Researchers believe this work could lead to new treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Takamitsu Watanabe, a psychiatrist and cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Tokyo, saeid he became interested in ASD after listening to his patients.he noted that many autistic traits were not fully explained biologically, and few neurobiological treatments existed when he began his career.
Watanabe and his team discovered that adults and children with autism often experience “neural rigidity.” While most brains transition between different states frequently, those with ASD may experience these changes less often.
The researchers found that this neural rigidity contributes to both social and nonsocial behaviors seen in ASD. They also identified how neural rigidity affects various autistic cognitive traits.
“Our results clarify that neural rigidity doesn’t just correlate with autistic behaviors but indicates the possibility that neural rigidity could be a major cause of this prevalent neurodevelopmental condition at the biological level,” Watanabe said.
Forty adults with level 1 ASD participated in experiments over 24 weeks. Researchers collected brain data to understand baseline brain dynamics, assessed neural rigidity related to social and nonsocial autistic traits, and conducted numerical simulations followed by physical trials to increase neural flexibility.
The method, called brain state-driven neural stimulation (BDNS), uses TMS to stimulate brain cells. BDNS delivers short pulses of TMS only when