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Modulating Temporoparietal Junction Mentalizing-Related Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Modulating Temporoparietal Junction Mentalizing-Related Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Who can join
Ages 18 to 35 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Estimated full-scale IQ\>80 * Right handed * Fluent in English * Individual can cooperate with all study's procedures * No history of neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy) or neurosurgery * No major medical condition (e.g. cancer, heart failure) * No history of significant head injury * No primary relatives with history of any neurological disorder with a potentially hereditary basis, including epilepsy or MS * No current use of medications with psychotropic (e.g., benzodiazepines) or anti- or pro-convulsants * No current substance use (determined by urine screen and breathalyzer in all visits) * Negative urine pregnancy (women) test at time of MRI scans * No MR contra-indications (e.g. in-body metal implant, severe claustrophobia) * No previous participation in our lab in a study including the Domino fMRI task * For ASD: Stable medication treatment 4 weeks prior to study enrollment * For Control Group: No current or history of psychiatric disorders, other than simple phobia, and/or primary relatives with ASD Exclusion Criteria: \-
About the study
The goal of this observational study is to test the modulation effect of different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the neural network supporting our ability to create mental representations of others (also known as mentalizing) in young adults with autism. The main question it aims to answers is can stimulation of the right temporoparietal junction can change brain activity related to mentalizing during social interaction in the stimulation area and other brain areas connected to it. Researchers will compare results to a group of individuals without autism to see if the patterns of neural activity change are similar between the groups.
Participants will undergo assessment of their clinical traits and social skills and baseline MRI scan. They will attend three additional visits that include TMS session and functional MRI scans before and right after TMS.
What is being tested
- fMRI (diagnostic test)
- rTMS (device)
Sponsor: Yale University · Participants: 80 · Started: Apr 3, 2024
Contact the study team
- Michal Assaf, MD · Phone: 860-545-7792
- Vaughn R Steele, MD · Phone: 860-545-7855
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06214065
Locations in the U.S.
| Connecticut | Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center (ONRC), Hartford |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.