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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Children with Autism

This study is looking at how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation method, combined with applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, might help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are 5 to 12 years old. Researchers want to see if tDCS can improve learning and cognitive skills, especially those related to executive functioning (skills like planning and problem-solving). You would need to be enrolled in an ABA program and be able to comfortably wear the tDCS device. Success will be measured by changes in executive function skills and brain activity (EEG) over five months. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 24 participants.

Study design
This is a double-blind, sham-controlled crossover study involving 24 participants. This means neither you nor the researchers will know if you are receiving the active tDCS or a sham (inactive) treatment at certain times.
What's involved
You would receive 40 stimulation sessions, each lasting 20 minutes, alongside your ABA therapy. Your executive function and brain activity will be measured monthly for five months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Changes in executive function and brain activity will be measured once per month for five months.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07092280

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Children With Autism

Recruiting
NAAges 5–12InterventionalTreatment
New York State Institute for Basic Research
~24 participants
Updated 2026-02-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Active tDCSSham (No Treatment)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)
Measured over Change measured once per month (at the end of each phase) for 5 months
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Executive Dysfunction

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NCT07092280

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • New York State Institute for Basic Research

    Staten Island, New Yorkstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • J. Helen Yoo, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · New York State Institute for Basic Research

Who to contact

J. Helen Yoo, Ph.D.
[email protected]
(929) 257-1695
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Exclusion

Na or Ca channel blockers which will include all anti-seizure medications
Medications that affect the NMDA receptors including dextromethorphan, cycloserine
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Dopamine stimulating or blocking medications including pergolide, bromocriptine and all antipsychotic medications
Norepinephrine stimulating or blocking agents including propranolol and the stimulants
Drugs that can lower seizure threshold \[imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline, maprotiline, chlorpromazine, clozapine, foscarnet, ganciclovir, ritonavir, amphetamines, phencyclidine, ketamine, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), alcohol, theophylline\]
Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, meprobamate, chloral hydrate in the past 4 weeks 7. Acute skin disease 8. History of magnetic or electrical stimulation

What this trial measures

  • Change in the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)Change measured once per month (at the end of each phase) for 5 months

    The BRIEF is a parent-reported executive function questionnaire which utilizes T-scores, which has a mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10, with a range of 10-100

  • Change in Electrodncephalogram (EEG)Change measured once per month (at the end of each phase) for 5 months

    Power, sample entropy, Lyapunov exponent, detrended fluctuation analysis, correlation dimension, and recurrence quantitative analysis (RQA) values on all frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma, and gamma+) will be computed from 2-minute resting EEGs using a portable headset