rTMS to Improve Motor Function in Autism

Participation Requirements

• Sex:

  ALL

• Eligible Ages:

  18 to 40

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

ASD or control participants must meet all of the inclusion criteria to eligible for this study:

1. Aged between 18 and 40 years old. 40 years is chosen as the cut-off because of the report of high rates of Parkinsonism in autistic adults \> 39years;
2. Have IQ\>70;
3. Are able to read, write and communicate effectively in English;
4. Are able to provide informed consent. We will recruit only intellectually-able autistic adults. The intellectual ability will be determined using WAIS. The ability to provide consent will be determined using clinical assessment.
5. Have no prior history of seizure;
6. Must sign and date the informed consent form;
7. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures;
8. Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations throughout study duration.

All ASD participants:

1. Will have DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD without intellectual disability, confirmed by clinical assessment and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2 (ADOS-2);
2. Will have significant motor function difficulties defined as a standard composite score \<40 (i.e., \>1 standard deviation below the mean) on either fine or gross motor composite scores of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition or BOT-2;
3. Are clinically stable as determined by clinical assessment, with no medication changes over the past 4 weeks. Given the high variability of handedness in ASD, we will include participants with left, right or mixed handedness.

Exclusion Criteria:

ASD or control participants will be excluded if they experience/have:

1. Current pregnancy;
2. Current or past history of co-morbid medical condition that may require urgent medical intervention;
3. DSM-5 substance use disorder (other than tobacco) within the past 6 months; however, all participants will be asked to refrain from smoking or taking caffeine four hours prior to the iTBS session;
4. Significant hearing or visual impairment interfering with the ability to read or hear instructions;
5. Significantly debilitating medical or neurologic illness (e.g., encephalitis, aneurysms, tumors, central nervous system infections), or acute or unstable medical illnesses as determined by project physician (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes);
6. Metal implants or a pace-maker;
7. Prior rTMS treatment;
8. Claustrophobia;

In addition ASD participants will be excluded if they report taking benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants currently.

NT controls will be excluded if they have:

1. Presence of psychopathology other than specific phobia, as screened by Personality Assessment Inventory and;
2. A known diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder or ASD among any biologically related family members.