HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract This study examined the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on those with and without sensory processing abnormalities. A randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial inv...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93631-z |
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| author | Yonglu Wang Zhijia Li Yupei Ye Yun Li Ran Wei Kaiyan Gan Yuxin Qian Lingxi Xu Yue Kong Luyang Guan Hui Fang Gongkai Jiao Xiaoyan Ke |
| author_facet | Yonglu Wang Zhijia Li Yupei Ye Yun Li Ran Wei Kaiyan Gan Yuxin Qian Lingxi Xu Yue Kong Luyang Guan Hui Fang Gongkai Jiao Xiaoyan Ke |
| author_sort | Yonglu Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study examined the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on those with and without sensory processing abnormalities. A randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial involved 72 children with ASD, divided into three groups based on sensory integration status. A post-hoc analysis of 51 children aged 4–8 years who received true HD-tDCS was conducted, categorizing them into hypo-tactile, hyper-tactile, and typical tactile sensitivity groups. Therapeutic efficacy was compared across these groups. (1) The randomized cntrolled Trial: The typical sensory integration group showed significant improvements in social awareness (t = 5.032, p < 0.000) and autistic mannerisms (t = 3.085, p = 0.004) compared to the sensory integration dysfunction group. (2)The result of the post-hoc analysis: The hypo-tactile and typical tactile sensitivity groups exhibited notable improvements in social awareness, cognition, communication, autistic mannerisms, and total SRS scores. In contrast, the hyper-tactile group only had a significant reduction in social communication (t = 2.385, p = 0.022) post-intervention. HD-tDCS effectively improved social impairment symptoms in children with ASD, particularly those with typical sensory integration and either typical or hypo-tactile responsiveness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ee83e5c0ac94a15a359e07b9f4eacbf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ee83e5c0ac94a15a359e07b9f4eacbf2025-08-20T03:41:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-93631-zHD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trialYonglu Wang0Zhijia Li1Yupei Ye2Yun Li3Ran Wei4Kaiyan Gan5Yuxin Qian6Lingxi Xu7Yue Kong8Luyang Guan9Hui Fang10Gongkai Jiao11Xiaoyan Ke12Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityAbstract This study examined the effects of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on social impairment in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), focusing on those with and without sensory processing abnormalities. A randomized double-blind sham-controlled trial involved 72 children with ASD, divided into three groups based on sensory integration status. A post-hoc analysis of 51 children aged 4–8 years who received true HD-tDCS was conducted, categorizing them into hypo-tactile, hyper-tactile, and typical tactile sensitivity groups. Therapeutic efficacy was compared across these groups. (1) The randomized cntrolled Trial: The typical sensory integration group showed significant improvements in social awareness (t = 5.032, p < 0.000) and autistic mannerisms (t = 3.085, p = 0.004) compared to the sensory integration dysfunction group. (2)The result of the post-hoc analysis: The hypo-tactile and typical tactile sensitivity groups exhibited notable improvements in social awareness, cognition, communication, autistic mannerisms, and total SRS scores. In contrast, the hyper-tactile group only had a significant reduction in social communication (t = 2.385, p = 0.022) post-intervention. HD-tDCS effectively improved social impairment symptoms in children with ASD, particularly those with typical sensory integration and either typical or hypo-tactile responsiveness.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93631-zAutism spectrum disorderHigh definition transcranial direct current stimulationSensory abnormalitiesSensory integration dysfunctionSocial impairment |
| spellingShingle | Yonglu Wang Zhijia Li Yupei Ye Yun Li Ran Wei Kaiyan Gan Yuxin Qian Lingxi Xu Yue Kong Luyang Guan Hui Fang Gongkai Jiao Xiaoyan Ke HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial Scientific Reports Autism spectrum disorder High definition transcranial direct current stimulation Sensory abnormalities Sensory integration dysfunction Social impairment |
| title | HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | HD-tDCS effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities: a randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | hd tdcs effects on social impairment in autism spectrum disorder with sensory processing abnormalities a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Autism spectrum disorder High definition transcranial direct current stimulation Sensory abnormalities Sensory integration dysfunction Social impairment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-93631-z |
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