Beneficios y limitaciones de la neuromodulación no invasiva como alternativa de tratamiento para el Trastorno del Espectro Autista.

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a clinical condition, is associated with neurodevelopment, which is why people with ASD show impairments in several areas, such as cognition, memory, attention, emotional recognition, and social skills. This is why there is a need for new innovative therapeutic approaches such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS), which offer a new approach to the treatment of this condition. Objectives: To summarize the benefits and limitations of noninvasive neuromodulation as a treatment alternative for ASD. Methodology: A literature review of 51 articles from the online Catholic University of Cuenca library and scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted. Results: Encouraging perspectives of TMS were presented since, up to now, action potential activation protocols are used in a frequency range of 1 to 20 Hz, contributing to the decrease in receptive, expressive, domestic, and community skills. On the other hand, the TDCS protocol with 1mA current provides favorable results in areas of behavior, sociability, and sensory/cognitive awareness. Conclusions: Scientific findings indicate that TMS and TDCS may have positive effects on ASD. However, it is essential to mention the gaps that remain in terms of quantifying the long-term outcomes that occur in individuals with ASD receiving non-invasive neuromodulation.