Hanyang Med Rev.  2016 Feb;36(1):65-71. 10.7599/hmr.2016.36.1.65.

Brain Stimulation and Modulation for Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Kim T
• Ryu JE
• Bahn GH

• KMID: 2168374
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2016.36.1.65

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by a range of conditions including impairments in social interaction, communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Pharmacological treatments can improve some symptoms of ASD, but the effect is limited and there is a huge unmet demand for successful interventions of ASD. Brain stimulation and modulation are emerging treatment options for ASD: electroconvulsive therapy for catatonia in ASD, vagal nerve stimulation for comorbid epilepsy and ASD, and deep brain stimulation for serious self-injurious behavior. Therapeutic tools are evolving to mechanism-driven treatment. Excitation/Inhibition (E/I) imbalance alters the brain mechanism of information processing and behavioral regulation. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can stabilize aberrant neuroplasticity by improving E/I balance. These brain stimulation and modulation methods are expected to be used for exploration of the pathophysiology and etiology of ASD and might facilitate the development of a mechanism-driven solution of core domains of ASD in the future.

Keyword

Electroconvulsive Therapy; Vagus Nerve Stimulation; Deep Brain Stimulation; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Optogenetics

MeSH Terms

Autistic Disorder*
Automatic Data Processing
Brain*
Catatonia
Child
Autism Spectrum Disorder*
Deep Brain Stimulation
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Epilepsy
Interpersonal Relations
Neuronal Plasticity
Optogenetics
Self-Injurious Behavior
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Vagus Nerve Stimulation

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