Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission 12/2018

01-12-2018 | Psychiatry and Preclinical Psychiatric Studies - Original Article

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) for social cognition and social skills in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Authors: Joan Esse Wilson, Michael C. Trumbo, J. Kevin Wilson, Claudia D. Tesche

Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission | Issue 12/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Social deficits are core to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current treatments are extremely time- and labor-intensive. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be a promising treatment modality to safely enhance treatments targeting social cognition and social skills. This pilot study investigates the effectiveness of social skills treatment interventions paired with anodal tDCS for six adults 18–58 years with ASD. Differences were predicted on the verbal fluency (VF) test and a test of social skills (TASSK-M) for verum (2.0 mA) vs. sham tDCS, which was randomly assigned in a within-subjects, double-blinded design in adults with ASD with normal or higher cognitive functioning. The anode electrode was placed over right temporoparietal (CP6) and cathode over ipsilateral deltoid. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for paired data indicated that participants received a significantly higher score on the VF test after receiving verum tDCS compared to sham tDCS, with no significant differences found on the TASSK-M. Post-hoc analysis showed that the emotion-word portion of the VF test, specifically, indicated significant differences when comparing verum to sham tDCS conditions. These findings provide optimism for the use of tDCS as delivered in the current study paired with social skills treatment interventions for ASD, particularly for improving skills of emotion verbal fluency.
Literature
go back to reference Baron-Cohen S (2003) Mind reading the interactive guide to emotions. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc., London Baron-Cohen S (2003) Mind reading the interactive guide to emotions. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc., London
go back to reference Bellini S, Akullian J (2013) A meta-analysis of video modeling and video self-modeling interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Except Child 73(3):264–287CrossRef Bellini S, Akullian J (2013) A meta-analysis of video modeling and video self-modeling interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Except Child 73(3):264–287CrossRef
go back to reference Chugani DC (2012) Neuroimaging and neurochemistry of autism. Pediatr Clin N Am 59(1):63–73CrossRef Chugani DC (2012) Neuroimaging and neurochemistry of autism. Pediatr Clin N Am 59(1):63–73CrossRef
go back to reference D’Urso G, Bruzzese D, Ferrucci R, Priori A, Pascotto A, Galderisi S,, Altamura CA, Bravaccio C (2015) Transcranial direct current stimulation for hyperactivity and noncompliance in autistic disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry 16(5):361–366CrossRef D’Urso G, Bruzzese D, Ferrucci R, Priori A, Pascotto A, Galderisi S,, Altamura CA, Bravaccio C (2015) Transcranial direct current stimulation for hyperactivity and noncompliance in autistic disorder. World J Biol Psychiatry 16(5):361–366CrossRef
go back to reference Ebisu T, Rooney WD, Graham SH, Weiner W, Maudsley AA (1994) N-Acetylaspartate as an in vivo marker of neuronal viability in kainate-induced status epilepticus: 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 14(3):373–382CrossRef Ebisu T, Rooney WD, Graham SH, Weiner W, Maudsley AA (1994) N-Acetylaspartate as an in vivo marker of neuronal viability in kainate-induced status epilepticus: 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 14(3):373–382CrossRef
go back to reference Ekman P (2003) Emotions revealed. St. Martin’s Press, New York Ekman P (2003) Emotions revealed. St. Martin’s Press, New York
go back to reference Hofvander B, Delorme R, Chaste P, Nydén A, Wentz E, Ståhlberg O, Herbrecht E, Stopin A, Anckarsäter H, Gillberg C, Råstam M, Leboyer M (2009) Psychiatric and psychosocial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders. BMC Psychiatry 9(35):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-9-35 CrossRef Hofvander B, Delorme R, Chaste P, Nydén A, Wentz E, Ståhlberg O, Herbrecht E, Stopin A, Anckarsäter H, Gillberg C, Råstam M, Leboyer M (2009) Psychiatric and psychosocial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders. BMC Psychiatry 9(35):1–9. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​1471-244X-9-35 CrossRef
go back to reference LaCava P, Golan O, Baron-Cohen S, Smith Myle B (2007) Using assistive technology to teach emotion recognition to students with Asperger Syndrome. Remedial Spec Educ 28(3):174–181CrossRef LaCava P, Golan O, Baron-Cohen S, Smith Myle B (2007) Using assistive technology to teach emotion recognition to students with Asperger Syndrome. Remedial Spec Educ 28(3):174–181CrossRef
go back to reference Laugeson EA (2013) The science of making friends. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco Laugeson EA (2013) The science of making friends. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco
go back to reference Laugeson EA, Frankel F (eds) (2010) The PEERS treatment manual. Routlege, New York Laugeson EA, Frankel F (eds) (2010) The PEERS treatment manual. Routlege, New York
go back to reference Oldfield RC (1971) The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychologia 9(1):97–113CrossRef Oldfield RC (1971) The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychologia 9(1):97–113CrossRef
go back to reference Page LA, Daly E, Schmitz N, Simmons A, Toal F, Deeley Q, Ambery F, McAlonan GM, Murphy KC, Murphy DG (2006) In vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of amygdala-hippocampal and parietal regions in autism. Am J Psychiatry 163(12):2189–2192CrossRef Page LA, Daly E, Schmitz N, Simmons A, Toal F, Deeley Q, Ambery F, McAlonan GM, Murphy KC, Murphy DG (2006) In vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of amygdala-hippocampal and parietal regions in autism. Am J Psychiatry 163(12):2189–2192CrossRef
go back to reference Ruzich E, Allison C, Smith P, Watson P, Auyeung B, Ring H, Baron-cohen S (2015) Measuring autistic traits in the general population: a systematic review of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in a nonclinical population sample of 6,900 typical adult males and females. Mol Autism 6(2):1–12 Ruzich E, Allison C, Smith P, Watson P, Auyeung B, Ring H, Baron-cohen S (2015) Measuring autistic traits in the general population: a systematic review of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) in a nonclinical population sample of 6,900 typical adult males and females. Mol Autism 6(2):1–12
go back to reference Shipley WC, Gruber CP, Martin TA, Klein A (2009) Shipley-2. Western Psychological Services, Los Angeles Shipley WC, Gruber CP, Martin TA, Klein A (2009) Shipley-2. Western Psychological Services, Los Angeles
go back to reference Tebartz van Elst, L, Maier S, Fangmeier T, Endres D, Mueller GT, Nickel K, Ebert D, Lange T, Hennig J, Biscaldi M (2014) Disturbed cingulate glutamate metabolism in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: evidence in support of the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance hypothesis. Mol Psychiatry 19(May):1314–1325. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2014.62 CrossRef Tebartz van Elst, L, Maier S, Fangmeier T, Endres D, Mueller GT, Nickel K, Ebert D, Lange T, Hennig J, Biscaldi M (2014) Disturbed cingulate glutamate metabolism in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: evidence in support of the excitatory/inhibitory imbalance hypothesis. Mol Psychiatry 19(May):1314–1325. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1038/​mp.​2014.​62 CrossRef
go back to reference Tottenham N, Tanaka JW, Leon AC (2009) The NimStim set of facial expressions: judgments from untrained research participants. Psychiatry Res 168(3):242–249CrossRef Tottenham N, Tanaka JW, Leon AC (2009) The NimStim set of facial expressions: judgments from untrained research participants. Psychiatry Res 168(3):242–249CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) for social cognition and social skills in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Authors
Joan Esse Wilson
Michael C. Trumbo
J. Kevin Wilson
Claudia D. Tesche
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Journal of Neural Transmission / Issue 12/2018
Print ISSN: 0300-9564
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1463
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-018-1938-5

Other articles of this Issue 12/2018

Journal of Neural Transmission 12/2018 Go to the issue

Psychiatry and Preclinical Psychiatric Studies - Original Article

Chronic oral methylphenidate treatment increases microglial activation in rats

Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Original Article

Is the dual-task cost of walking and texting unique in people with multiple sclerosis?

Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Short communication

A novel nonsense autosomal dominant mutation in the GLRA1 gene causing hyperekplexia

Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Original Article

Effect of serum uric acid on cognition in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder

Psychiatry and Preclinical Psychiatric Studies - Short communication

Desacylghrelin but not acylghrelin is reduced during smoking cessation

Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Original Article

Emotional facedness in Parkinson’s disease