A new non-invasive brain stimulation technique, accelerated continuous theta burst stimulation (a-cTBS), has demonstrated significant improvements in social communication and language abilities in autistic children. Researchers in China conducted a trial involving 200 children aged four to 10, with half also having intellectual disabilities. The study, published in the BMJ, showed that 10 sessions of a-cTBS over five days led to "significantly improved" social communication and language skills, with benefits sustained for a month post-treatment. The technique exhibited a "favourable safety profile" with mild, transient side-effects, leading researchers to propose it as a "viable and scalable therapeutic option" for children with autism spectrum disorder, though experts caution it should complement existing supports rather than replace them.