CLINICAL TRIAL: MODULATION OF PREFRONTAL ACTIVITY TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE SKILLS IN

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 该项目的目标是通过调节自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)患者的前额叶活动来提高使用1赫兹rTMS的语言技能。这一背景是基于我们先前的工作，证明(1)ASD患者存在镜像神经系统异常和Broca区异常，(2)使用rTMS调节前额叶兴奋性可以改善失语症患者的语言能力。假设rTMS应用于右侧三角部将通过诱导双半球语言网络的快速可塑性和调节有效连接来显著改善语言能力。研究分为两个阶段：第一阶段是四个刺激点的受试者内多交叉试验，旨在证明rTMS是安全的，并评估一次rTMS治疗对ASD患者语言技能的影响。只有当第一阶段被证明是安全的，并且我们的疗效假设得到证实时，第二阶段才会开始。这是一项平行分组、假刺激对照的临床试验，旨在评估10次右侧三角部rTMS治疗对语言的影响。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The goal of the project is to improve language skills using 1 Hz rTMS by modulating prefrontal activity in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The background is based on our prior work demonstrating that (1) patients with ASD have an abnormal mirror neuron system and abnormalities in Broca's area, and (2) modulation of prefrontal excitability using rTMS improves language in aphasic patients. The hypothesis is that application of rTMS to the right pars triangularis will significantly improve language through induction of rapid plasticity and modulation of effective connectivity in the bihemispheric language network. There are two phases: Phase 1 is a four-stimulation site, within-subject multiple crossover trial which aimed to show that rTMS is safe and to evaluate the effects of one rTMS session on language skills in ASD. Phase 2 will only be initiated if phase 1 proves safe and our efficacy hypothesis is confirmed. This is a parallel group, sham-stimulation controlled, clinical trial which aims to assess the impact of ten rTMS sessions to right pars triangularis on language.