Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation at 40 Hz Improves Social Functioning in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Bingqian Gao, Lijing Lin, Robert C Smith et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of 40-Hz transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on social functioning in 47 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The active stimulation group showed significant improvements in Ohio State University Autism Rating Scale-DSM-5 scores at both week 1 (mean difference = -1.13) and week 4 (mean difference = -1.47), indicating enhanced social functioning.
Key findings
- Active tACS group showed a mean difference of -1.13 in OARS-5 scores at week 1.
- At week 4, the mean difference in OARS-5 scores was -1.47 for the active group.
- Improvements were also noted in selected behavioral and sensory domains.
- No serious adverse events were reported during the trial.
Why it matters
The study highlights a potential neuromodulation approach to address core social difficulties in children with ASD, an area where effective interventions are critically needed. Understanding the impact of tACS could inform future treatment strategies.