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Modulating Temporoparietal Junction Mentalizing-Related Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

NCT06214065 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 80

Last updated 2026-03-27

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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.

Conditions

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

fMRI

fMRI will be performed pre- and post-rTMS

DEVICE

rTMS

TMS procedures are scheduled during study sessions 2-4 between the two MRI scans on those days. Because rTMS induces neural changes that last about 1 hour, rTMS will be applied immediately before the second MRI scan on each day. Prior to the TMS visits, target coordinates and orientation vectors will be generated from the MRI data and the e-field models and loaded into Localite along with the participant's reconstructed T1 image. During the visits, the participant's head will be co-registered to the T1 using fiducial points at the Nasion and Tragi. TMS pulses will be delivered, using the Localite software to target and track the optimal orientation calculated with e-field modeling.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

    collaborator NIH

  • Yale University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Vaughn Steele, MD · Yale University

  • Michal Assaf, MD · Yale University

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-04-03
Primary Completion
2027-10-31
Completion
2027-10-31
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06214065 on ClinicalTrials.gov