Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by executive function deficiency and social interaction difficulty. Using the developed technique, personalized brain functional sectors (pBFS), we could precisely identify individualized brain function networks based on the resting-state functional MRI scan. A tailored dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region situated within the executive function network and a tailored dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) region situated within the social network will be selected as intervention targets.~The participants will be equally randomized to the following three groups, active iTBS to the left DLPFC, active iTBS to the left DMPFC, and sham iTBS to either the left DLPFC or left DMPFC at a ratio of 2:2:1:1. Each participant will receive 1800 pulse active or sham iTBS (100% RMT) in each session, 3 sessions daily, 5 days per week for 8 weeks, as well as background behavioral training between iTBS sessions.
This study aims to evaluate the neuromodulation (i.e., iTBS) effectiveness for treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by targeting at the pBFS-guided executive function brain network or social brain network.