BMJ randomized trial
A randomized trial published in the British Medical Journal reported that a five-day course of theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TBS) produced improvements in social communication and language in 194 children with autism. The sample’s average age was about 6.5 years, and the study included a substantial number of children with intellectual disability.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either active non-invasive brain stimulation or a sham procedure that mimicked sounds and scalp sensations. The theta-burst protocol delivers rapid bursts of magnetic pulses and takes only a few minutes per session, a practical advantage for young children. Families and study staff were blinded to allocation.
Parents rated children’s communication and social skills before treatment, immediately after the five-day course, and again one month later. Children in the active stimulation group showed measurable improvements that persisted at the one-month follow-up, according to the paper. No serious adverse events were reported; minor side effects resolved without medical care.
Researchers cautioned that the results are preliminary. They wrote that it remains uncertain how long benefits last beyond one month, how many or how frequent sessions would be required for sustained change, and whether similar effects would appear outside controlled trial settings. The authors also emphasised that TBS is not a replacement for behavioural or educational therapies.
The study’s inclusion of children with intellectual disability addresses a common evidence gap, the authors noted, because this group is often excluded from trials despite high support needs. They called for larger, longer trials across diverse settings before TBS could be considered for routine clinical use.
Photo credit: publish.eastleighvoice.co.ke
Tags: theta-burst stimulation, autism spectrum disorder, transcranial magnetic stimulation, intellectual disability
Topics: Non-invasive brain stimulation, Neuromodulation, Neuroscience & neuroplasticity