The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on the functional skills of children with autism spectrum disorders

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of noninvasive brain stimulation that transmits a weak electrical current usually ranging from ۱ to ۲mAbetween two electrode sponges, the anode and cathode, placed on the subject’s scalp. Since the end of the۱۹۹۰s, tDCS has received clinical interest as a technique able tosignificantly modify brain functions and clinical application of this technique was reported for the first time in March ۲۰۰۵. In recent years, tDCS has been intensively investigated as a treatment in a variety of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It has been used extensively for cognitive, language and behavioral treatments and shown to be a viable and safe treatment method for many conditions such as theory of mind abilities, grammar use, andstereotypic behavior. The present study critically reviewed evidence of the applicability and efficacy of tDCS for the treatment of children with ASD. Methods: A review of the literature concerning the application of tDCS in ASD children was conducted using the databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Web of Knowledge and Cochrane. Relevant studies were identified by three reviewers based on screened titles/abstracts and full texts. Results: the papers found based on the keywords, ۱۰ papers were selected. Studies in this area were conducted in the form of original research, RCT, clinical study and case report, the age range of the children participating ranged from ۵ to ۱۴ years and the number of tDCS presentation sessions ranged from ۱ to ۲۸ sessions. The most stimulated area in the studies was the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the other areas stimulated were supplementary motor area (SMA), right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) and Broca. In these tudies, the effects of tDCS have been assessed on the cognitive, behavioral, communication/linguistic and motor function as well as brain signals of children with ASD. Conclusion: Although research in the field of application of tDCS for ASD children is few and limited to recent years, but these studies have shown a positive effect of this method on improving cognitive, behavioral, communication/language, motor and brain functions in autistic children and this method can be used to improve various functionalaspects of these children due to its non-invasive nature.

کلیدواژه ها:

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ، Autism Spectrum Disorders ، Functional Skills.