Enhanced cognition and emotional recognition, and reduced obsessive compulsive symptoms in two adults with high-functioning autism as a result of deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS): a case report

ABSTRACT

We report reduced repetitive behaviors similar to obsessive compulsive disorder and improved emotional recognition and cognitive abilities in two young patients diagnosed with high-functioning Autism as a result of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS). The patients received daily high-frequency (5 Hz) dTMS with HAUT-coil over the medial prefrontal cortex for a period of 5–6 weeks. A computerized cognitive battery, tasks for testing emotional recognition, and clinical questionnaires were used to measure the effects of treatment. TMS might have modulated networks related to metalizing abilities and self-referential processes since both patients reported improved sociability and communication skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism
• obsessive compulsive disorder
• transcranial magnetic stimulation
• emotion
• cognition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

The study was performed in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration.

Informed consent was obtained from the patients included in the study.