Dr. Casanova, a researcher at the University of Kentucky, believes that TMS could be useful in helping alleviate the sensory overload and seizures often associated with autism. Minicolumns are groups of cells within the neocortex of the brain and have been found to be smaller and more numerous in people with autism. Dr. Casanova believes that by increasing the insulation of these minicolumns, both sensory overload and the incidence of seizures will be reduced in those with autism. It is possible that this increased insulation could be achieved with TMS, as the result of flipping the magnetic field of the cortex. Although clinical trials have not yet started to test this hypothesis, the use of TMS to treat some of the sensory symptoms of autism seems very promising.
The video below was created to help people understand the types of sensory overload experienced by those with autism:
I actually read an article, published in Psychology Today, that tells the story of a man with Asperger's whose symptoms were greatly improved as a result of TMS treatment. He is working with a group of researchers in Boston on this very subject. I think its wonderful that another group of researchers is working on the same thing, because additional findings implicating TMS as a possible treatment to certain autistic symptoms would be revolutionary. Of course, clinical TMS trials on humans should be approached with caution, but hopefully Dr. Casanova will move to this stage of research in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI am pretty impressed with the number of afflictions that TMS is being researched as a treatment for. At first I had thought that it was only useful in alleviating the symptoms of depression, but through reading others' blogs I have seen that it can also be used in treating parkinson's, autism, and a few other conditions. Hopefully as research continues in this field more definitive conclusions as to the capabilities of TMS for treatment will be reached.
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