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Modulating Temporoparietal Junction Mentalizing-Related Activity in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Yale University · with National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) · NCT06214065

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–35 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
80
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
April 3, 2024
Record last updated
March 27, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The goal of this observational study is to test the modulation effect of different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the neural network supporting our ability to create mental representations of others (also known as mentalizing) in young adults with autism. The main question it aims to answers is can stimulation of the right temporoparietal junction can change brain activity related to mentalizing during social interaction in the stimulation area and other brain areas connected to it. Researchers will compare results to a group of individuals without autism to see if the patterns of neural activity change are similar between the groups.

Participants will undergo assessment of their clinical traits and social skills and baseline MRI scan. They will attend three additional visits that include TMS session and functional MRI scans before and right after TMS.

Being studied: fMRI; rTMS

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Estimated full-scale IQ>80
  • Right handed
  • Fluent in English
  • Individual can cooperate with all study's procedures
  • No history of neurological disorder (e.g. epilepsy) or neurosurgery
  • No major medical condition (e.g. cancer, heart failure)
  • No history of significant head injury
  • No primary relatives with history of any neurological disorder with a potentially hereditary basis, including epilepsy or MS
  • No current use of medications with psychotropic (e.g., benzodiazepines) or anti- or pro-convulsants
  • No current substance use (determined by urine screen and breathalyzer in all visits)
  • Negative urine pregnancy (women) test at time of MRI scans
  • No MR contra-indications (e.g. in-body metal implant, severe claustrophobia)
  • No previous participation in our lab in a study including the Domino fMRI task
  • For ASD: Stable medication treatment 4 weeks prior to study enrollment
  • For Control Group: No current or history of psychiatric disorders, other than simple phobia, and/or primary relatives with ASD

Exclusion Criteria

-

Recruiting US locations

  • Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center (ONRC)

    Hartford, CT 06106

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Michal Assaf, MD · 860-545-7792 · michal.assaf@hhchealth.org
  • Vaughn R Steele, MD · 860-545-7855 · vaughn.steele@yale.edu
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Modulating Temporoparietal Junction Mentalizing-Related Activity… (NCT06214065) | Bored Studies