EFFECTS OF TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION IN PATIENTS WITH AUTISM: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects social communication and behavior development. It reaches about 70 million people worldwide, demonstrating the need for affordable and effective treatments. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS or tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique as a therapeutic alternative in different conditions, including ASD. goal: To evaluate the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with autism (ASD). methodology: A literature review was conducted in PUBMED and Cochrane, using the PICO strategy. Randomised controlled trials were included and incomplete animal studies were excluded. Two reviewers selected the articles, and the data were organized into tables highlighting author, sample, intervention, and conclusions. findings: Four articles were selected. Studies have shown positive effects of tDCS, especially when applied to the prefrontal cortex, with benefits in emotion recognition, social functioning, nonverbal intelligence, working memory, and reduction of core ASD symptoms. discussion: tDCS has been shown to be effective and safe, with the potential to modulate neural circuits associated with social and cognitive functions. conclusion: tDCS is a promising intervention in the management of ASD symptoms, with relevant therapeutic potential. Future clinical trials, with greater standardization and long-term follow-up, are needed to consolidate its clinical applicability.