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Aim  We aimed to investigate the induction of long‐term potentiation (LTP)‐like plasticity by paired associative stimulation (PAS) in patients with high‐functioning autism and Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS).

Method  PAS with an interstimulus interval between electrical and transcranial magnetic stimulation of 25 ms (PAS₂₅) was performed in patients with HFA/AS (n=9; eight males, one female; mean age 17y 11mo, SD 4y 5mo) and in typically developing age‐matched volunteers (n=9; five males, four females; mean age 22y 4mo, SD 5y 2mo). The amplitude of motor‐evoked potentials was measured before PAS₂₅, immediately after stimulation, and 30 minutes and 60 minutes later. A PAS protocol adapted to individual N20 latency (PAS_N20+2) was performed in six additional patients with HFA/AS. Short‐interval intracortical inhibition was measured using paired‐pulse stimulation.

Results  In contrast to the …