Neurocircuitry of Autism- fMRI and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

Neurocircuitry of Autism- fMRI and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

This study uses functional brain imaging and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques to study the brain basis of developmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger Disorder. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and recently approved FDA treatment of depression, Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be used to study the neurocircuitry of certain symptom clusters in developmental disorders.

The purpose of this research is to study areas of the brain that may have something to do with repetitive movements (things that people do over and over again) and difficulty communicating with other people (problems with talking to, understanding, or just being in a relationships with other people). The investigators are trying to find out why these brain areas are working differently in people with developmental disorders, such as Autism and how the investigators can one day improve them with new brain stimulation techniques.

The investigators will do screening to make sure that you are eligible for the study. After screening, the investigators will do functional MRI. In this procedure the subject or the control will be looking at videos developed to understand their social communication and language skills. The investigators will be able to understand differences of brain activation between patients and control. The investigators will also use TMS to identify the difference of motor excitability between patients and healthy control.

Inclusion Criteria:

• for Healthy volunteer:

  • no current psychiatric disorder meeting Axis 1 DSM-4 criteria.
  • English speaking,
  • verbal and full scale IQ > 65,
  • capacity to give consent and signed HIPPA authorization.

• for Autism Spectrum Disorders:

  • diagnosed with Autism, Asperger or Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified,
  • English speaking,
  • capacity to give consent and verbal and full scale IQ > 65,
  • signed HIPPA authorization,
  • participants currently taking psychotropic medications must be at the same stable doses and be willing to continue at the same dose through out the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• for Healthy control and ASD:

  • women of child bearing potential not using birth control pills or breast feeding,
  • h/o bipolar disorder (lifetime),
  • any psychotic disorder( lifetime),
  • history of major depressive disorder or of substance abuse or dependence within the past year,
  • verbal or full scale IQ less than or equal to 65,
  • intracranial implants,
  • metallic implants,
  • shrapnel in the body,
  • metallic braces,
  • cardiac pacemakers or
  • vagus nerve stimulation device,
  • claustrophobia,
  • prior dx of seizure,
  • increased intracranial pressure or history of significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for at least 5 minutes
  • current significant laboratory abnormality,
  • neurological disorder including but not limited to space occupying brain lesion,
  • any history of seizures,
  • history of cerebrovascular accidents,
  • fainting,
  • cerebral aneurysm,
  • dementia,
  • huntington,
  • chorea,
  • multiple sclerosis