Electromagnetic brain pulse therapy, or EMBP, is an innovative approach that can benefit people who have a range of mental health concerns, including autism spectrum disorder. EMBP for autism uses magnetic brain stimulation to alleviate symptoms and improve functioning.
About Autism
To understand the reasons for (and benefits of) using EMBP for autism, it can be helpful to review some fundamental facts about this disorder first.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and often misunderstood neurodevelopmental condition.
As established in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people with ASD may experience two general types of symptoms:
- Persistent deficits in social communication and social interactions across multiple contexts
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and attention
Examples of communication and interaction deficits can include problems with:
- Engaging in typical back-and-forth conversations
- Interpreting social cues
- Using appropriate eye contact and body language
- Forming, maintaining, and understanding relationships
- Adapting their behaviors in various circumstances or contexts
Examples of restrictive or repetitive patterns can include:
- Use of peculiar, nonstandard phrasing
- Frequent repetition of words spoken by others
- Inflexible adherence to rituals or routines
- Insistence on order, uniformity, and predictability
- Extreme distress when faced with disorder or change
- Intense preoccupation with specific items or topics
- Elevated or diminished sensitivity to sounds, smells, textures, and other external stimuli
The DSM-5 reports that the symptoms of ASD will usually begin to occur early in a child’s developmental process, though they may not become obvious until a person encounters social demands that exceed their ability to handle.
The symptoms of ASD can cause substantial disruptions at home, in school, at work, or in other important areas of life. However, it is important to remember that there is no “standard” experience for people who have autism spectrum disorder.
The type and intensity of ASD symptoms – and the impact that they have on a person’s life — can vary considerably from one individual to the next.
EMBP vs. MeRT
EMBP and MeRT are two services that use brainwave data and magnetic stimulation to treat a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and autism spectrum disorder.
These services share several features, but there are also some distinct differences between them.
As we noted earlier, EMBP refers to electromagnetic brain pulse therapy.
- Developed by Yi Jin, MD, this approach combines electroencephalogram (EEG) brain mapping with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to deliver focused electromagnetic pulses to specified areas of the brain.
- The EEGs allow practitioners to chart the patient’s brain activity patterns so that they can identify exact areas to target with electromagnetism. Practitioners can also use EEG data to determine optimal frequency for the electromagnetic pulses.
- TMS delivers the electromagnetic pulses though a coil that is placed on the patient’s scalp above the targeted brain area. When the TMS device is activated, it will emit a series of brief pulses that penetrate the patient’s skull and reach a few millimeters into their brain.
MeRT stands for magnetic e-resonance therapy.
- MeRT practitioners first use quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess the patient’s brain frequencies and heart rate.
- The practitioners use the information gathered by the qEEG and ECG to identify which brain areas they will target with TMS.
- TMS functions the same in MeRT sessions as it does in EMBP sessions.
- A standard course of treatment for MeRT patients is five sessions per week for six weeks. Each session lasts about 45 minutes.
EMBP and MeRT are both noninvasive procedures that do not require anesthesia or any other forms of sedations. Patients are awake and alert throughout both processes, and can usually go about the rest of their day (including driving and returning to work) once the session has ended.
How is EMBP Used for Autism?
EMBP for autism follows the same processes that practitioners use to treat other mental health disorders. Patients undergo EEGs to determine which area of their brain to focus on, then complete several TMS sessions to stimulate these targeted areas.
Several studies have addressed the effectiveness of EMBP for autism. For example, a 2016 review of prior research on the topic reported:
- Many researchers believe autism spectrum disorder may be related to “abnormal cortical excitability and plasticity” in the brain.
- Using repetitive TMS (rTMS) to target certain regions of the cerebral cortex has shown promise for improving “specific behavioral deficits” in some ASD patients.
- A small study from 2011 found that TMS improved the ability of ASD patients to name objects, which indicates that this intervention may enhance functioning in Broca’s area, which is a brain region that is involved with language and speech.
The authors of the 2016 review stated that one-size-fits-all TMS treatments may have limited effectiveness. Instead, they suggested that “an individualized approach based on baseline measures of cortical plasticity and excitability of a given individual and used in combination with other behavioral or pharmacological interventions” may be called for.
EMBP for autism, which employes EEGs to guide the use of TMS, offers just such an individualized experience, and may offer considerable benefits for patients whose symptoms have not responded as well as expected to other types of treatment.
Contact Conscious Health About Our EMBP
Conscious Health offers a dynamic array of customizable therapies and services to help people who have autism, depression, anxiety, and a host of other mental health concerns. In addition to EMBP and TMS, we also offer neurofeedback, vibroacoustic therapy, and ketamine therapy.
When you choose our outpatient mental health treatment center in Los Angeles, you can expect to receive compassionate care and comprehensive support from a small team of dedicated professionals. We will take the time to get to know you as a unique individual, so that we can be sure we’re providing the focused care that you deserve.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, please contact us below or call us today.
