Pasca Ludovica, Romaniello Romina, Borgatti Renato, Ciricugno Andrea
IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
Department of Brain and Behavioral Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Cerebellum. 2025 Apr 26;24(4):88. doi: 10.1007/s12311-025-01844-9.
Cerebellar dysfunction affects socio-affective abilities beyond motor control. Recent studies suggest that non-invasive cerebellar neurostimulation can modulate social cognition networks, offering potential therapeutic benefits for children with autism, ADHD, and mood disorders. However, its application in pediatrics remains largely unexplored. This review summarizes emerging pediatric research on cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We discuss their mechanisms, potential benefits, and safety considerations, highlighting preliminary findings that suggest feasibility and effectiveness. Ethical concerns and technical challenges related to pediatric neuroanatomy and stimulation parameters are also addressed. While early results are promising, further clinical trials and neurophysiological studies are essential to optimize protocols and confirm long-term efficacy. Advancing our understanding of cerebellar involvement in socio-affective functions could lead to innovative rehabilitation strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.
小脑功能障碍不仅影响运动控制，还会影响社会情感能力。最近的研究表明，非侵入性小脑神经刺激可以调节社会认知网络，为患有自闭症、注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）和情绪障碍的儿童带来潜在的治疗益处。然而，其在儿科中的应用在很大程度上仍未得到探索。这篇综述总结了关于小脑经颅磁刺激（TMS）和经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）的新兴儿科研究。我们讨论了它们的机制、潜在益处和安全注意事项，突出了表明可行性和有效性的初步研究结果。还讨论了与儿科神经解剖学和刺激参数相关的伦理问题和技术挑战。虽然早期结果很有前景，但进一步的临床试验和神经生理学研究对于优化方案和确认长期疗效至关重要。加深我们对小脑在社会情感功能中所起作用的理解，可能会带来针对神经发育障碍的创新康复策略。
