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What Research Says About Magnetic Stimulation and Autism (ASD)

4 min read
Preteen tween boy covering ears with his fingers in bed

Researchers have studied magnetic stimulation in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Most of this research used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with clinical equipment, and the findings are still early. This article looks at what those studies examined.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a related technique that applies strong pulsed magnetic fields to the head, usually with clinical equipment. It is non-invasive, although side effects such as short-term headaches have been reported.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed far more often today than in the past. The CDC reports more than 100% increase in children with autism from 2000-2010 in the United States and that number is exponentially exploding. A genetic component has been found that limits the body’s ability to detoxify environmental factors. The combination of this genetic component in a significant percentage of the population, with an increased burden of environmental pollution in modern industrialized societies is likely contributing to this rapid increase in this disorder. These can include air, water and soil pollution, electro-pollution and processed food diets.

About 10% of autistic children also have Down syndrome or chromosomal disorders.

Some scientists have proposed that autism involves mitochondrial dysfunction​1​ which reduces the energy capacity of neuronal cells. Oxidative stress contributes to worsening of autism spectrum disorder​2​. A 2018 lab study found that low-intensity electromagnetic fields changed levels of reactive oxygen species in human cells​3​. About 8 universities from France, Egypt, Germany and the United States of America worked together on that study, which was done on cells, not on people with autism.

Other studies have looked at how PEMF affects cells in bone​4​, nerves​5​ and tissues​6​.

Research on magnetic stimulation in autism spectrum disorder

In 2010, University of Louisville School of Medicine scientists studied low-frequency repetitive TMS (rTMS) in autistic children​7​. They reported lower irritability and repetitive behaviour scores afterwards. One young woman with autism told New Scientist about her experience with brain stimulation using specialized clinical tools. These studies used clinical TMS equipment, not a portable PEMF device such as FlexPulse.

Neuroscientists have been studying magnetic stimulation in children and adolescents with a variety of psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, ASD, schizophrenia and Tourette’s syndrome​8​. A 2012 study looked at how repetitive TMS affected movement-related brain activity in people with autism​9​.

In 2014, an 18 week study with 2 control groups looked at behavior and cognition measures in autistic teenagers who received 1 Hz magnetic stimulation (rTMS).​10​

2014, saw another double-blind study at Monash University, Australia where researchers looked at whether deep TMS changed autism-related anxiety and social difficulties.​11​

You can read more about what PEMF therapy is and how the portable FlexPulse works.

Research on magnetic stimulation in autism is still early. The studies above used clinical TMS equipment rather than a portable PEMF device, and much more research is needed. If you’re considering any new approach for a child or adult with autism, talk to their doctor first.

References

  1. 1.
    Lombard J. Autism: a mitochondrial disorder? Med Hypotheses. 1998;50(6):497-500. doi:10.1016/s0306-9877(98)90270-5
  2. 2.
    Chauhan A, Chauhan V. Oxidative stress in autism. Pathophysiology. 2006;13(3):171-181. doi:10.1016/j.pathophys.2006.05.007
  3. 3.
    Sherrard R, Morellini N, Jourdan N, et al. Low-intensity electromagnetic fields induce human cryptochrome to modulate intracellular reactive oxygen species. PLoS Biol. 2018;16(10):e2006229. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.2006229
  4. 4.
    Ehnert S, Fentz A, Schreiner A, et al. Extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields cause antioxidative defense mechanisms in human osteoblasts via induction of •O2– and H2O2. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):14544. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-14983-9
  5. 5.
    Hei W, Byun S, Kim J, et al. Effects of electromagnetic field (PEMF) exposure at different frequency and duration on the peripheral nerve regeneration: in vitro and in vivo study. Int J Neurosci. 2016;126(8):739-748. doi:10.3109/00207454.2015.1054032
  6. 6.
    Aragona S, Mereghetti G, Lotti J, Vosa A, Lotti T, Canavesi E. Electromagnetic field in control tissue regeneration, pelvic pain, neuro-inflammation and modulation of non-neuronal cells. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2017;31(2 Suppl. 2):219-225. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28702986.
  7. 7.
    Baruth JM, Casanova MF, El-Baz A, et al. Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Modulates Evoked-Gamma Frequency Oscillations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Neurotherapy. August 2010:179-194. doi:10.1080/10874208.2010.501500
  8. 8.
    Croarkin P, Wall C, Lee J. Applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in child and adolescent psychiatry. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2011;23(5):445-453. doi:10.3109/09540261.2011.623688
  9. 9.
    Enticott P, Rinehart N, Tonge B, Bradshaw J, Fitzgerald P. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improves movement-related cortical potentials in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Stimul. 2012;5(1):30-37. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2011.02.001
  10. 10.
    Sokhadze E, El-Baz A, Sears L, Opris I, Casanova M. rTMS neuromodulation improves electrocortical functional measures of information processing and behavioral responses in autism. Front Syst Neurosci. 2014;8:134. doi:10.3389/fnsys.2014.00134
  11. 11.
    Enticott P, Fitzgibbon B, Kennedy H, et al. A double-blind, randomized trial of deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for autism spectrum disorder. Brain Stimul. 2014;7(2):206-211. doi:10.1016/j.brs.2013.10.004

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