[Cerebral neuromodulation in neurodevelopmental disorders].

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by earlyonset impairments in cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning, that persist across the lifespan. Growing evidence on the neurobiological underpinnings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autisms spectrum disorder has promoted the use of non-invasive brain stimulation as a complementary therapeutic approach. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation can safely modulate cortical excitability and synaptic plasticity, targeting dysfunctional neural networks involved in executive control, attention, and socio-emotional processing. Findings from pediatric populations indicate that prefrontal stimulation, particularly of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, may improve executive functions and reduce core clinical symptoms. Both techniques show favorable safety and tolerability profiles in children and adolescents. However, variability in stimulation protocols and outcome measures highlights the need for large-scale, standardized clinical trials to establish optimal parameters and long-term efficacy.