Case Report: Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation improves social interaction and stereotyped behavior in a boy with autism spectrum disorder
Shu Cheng, Xuan Xu, Chao Shan Yan, Meng Chai Mao, Kai Xuan Luo, Xiao Fan Zhang, Qi Hui Liang, Xiao Jing Long, Li Juan Ao, Mo Xian Chen
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025 · 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1606300
Abstract
Objectives Presently, no biomedical therapies are available that specifically address the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Given the evidence of cortical malfunction in ASD, low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation has been discussed as a prospective therapeutic technique. Methods We describe the application of transcranial focused ultrasound to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a boy with ASD, which was applied for 30 minutes each consecutive weekday for four weeks (20 sessions in total). Social interaction, stereotyped behavior and language were assessed by scales before the first transcranial focused ultrasound session, immediately after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Besides, functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to detect functional connections between regions of interest and the whole brain in individuals with ASD. Results Scale assessments revealed several improvements in social and stereotypical behavior after low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound. The results of functional near-infrared spectroscopy indicated increasing functional connections between the SM1 and other cortical regions as well as the whole brain, which accounted for the outcomes evaluated by the scale. Conclusions Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound in ASD potentially rectified cortical dysfunction, thereby presenting a novel pathway for the advancement of biomedical interventions targeting the impaired social and stereotypical behaviors in ASD.
Abstract via europepmc.
Exposures
Exposure 1: tFUS to left DLPFC
Target: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex — “left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex”
Device: other named manufacturer · GreenValley BrainTech Medical Technology Corporation · Ultrasound Neurostimulation System ✓
| Waveform | pulsed | |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental frequency (kHz) | 500 | ✓✓✓ |
| Pulse duration (ms) | 400 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
| Pulse repetition frequency (Hz) | 40 | ✓✓✓ |
| Duty cycle (%) | 1.6pulse duration × PRF gives 1600%, which disagrees with the stated value | ✓✓✓ |
| Sonication duration (s) | 0.5 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
| Free-field pressure (kPa) | not reported | |
|---|---|---|
| Free-field Isppa (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| Free-field Ispta (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| In-situ estimate | not reported | |
| In-situ pressure (kPa) | not reported | |
| In-situ Isppa (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| In-situ Ispta (W/cm²) | not reported | |
| Isppa, domain unspecified (W/cm²) | 28.37 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
| Ispta, domain unspecified (W/cm²) | 0.113 | ✓✓✓⚑ |
Pulse width T1 = 400, pulse repetition period T2 = 25 ms (PRF 40 Hz), burst duration T3 = 500 ms, burst period T4 = 2 s, duty cycle 1.6%; 30 minutes per session on each weekday for four weeks (20 sessions).
Consistency checks: pd exceeds period.
Flags from extraction
exposures[0].timing.pulse_duration_ms— Pulse width T1 stated as 400 ms alongside T2 = 25 ms and DC 1.6% (T1/T2); the unit is probably a typo (microseconds); recorded as written.exposures[0].timing.sonication_duration_s— Burst duration T3 = 500 ms repeating every T4 = 2 s for 30 min; recorded the 0.5 s burst; nested structure.exposures[0].unspecified_domain.ispta_w_cm2— Stated as 113.47 mW/cm2, converted to 0.11347 W/cm2; domain not stated.exposures[0].unspecified_domain.isppa_w_cm2— ISPPA 28.37 W/cm2 given without stating the domain.exposures[0].device.family— Transducer maker is not named; the stimulation system maker is GreenValley BrainTech.n_subjects— Case report of one boy; the authors mention three further participants in an ongoing trial.direction_of_effect— Authors say the protocol inhibited MEP amplitudes in TMS testing; the paper does not report excitation or inhibition for this participant.