scholarly journals Fostering Emotion Recognition in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Vinícius Silva ◽  
Filomena Soares ◽  
João Sena Esteves ◽  
Cristina P. Santos ◽  
Ana Paula Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Support Vector ◽  
Robotic Platform ◽  
Children With Asd

Facial expressions are of utmost importance in social interactions, allowing communicative prompts for a speaking turn and feedback. Nevertheless, not all have the ability to express themselves socially and emotionally in verbal and non-verbal communication. In particular, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are characterized by impairments in social communication, repetitive patterns of behaviour, and restricted activities or interests. In the literature, the use of robotic tools is reported to promote social interaction with children with ASD. The main goal of this work is to develop a system capable of automatic detecting emotions through facial expressions and interfacing them with a robotic platform (Zeno R50 Robokind® robotic platform, named ZECA) in order to allow social interaction with children with ASD. ZECA was used as a mediator in social communication activities. The experimental setup and methodology for a real-time facial expression (happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and neutral) recognition system was based on the Intel® RealSense™ 3D sensor and on facial features extraction and multiclass Support Vector Machine classifier. The results obtained allowed to infer that the proposed system is adequate in support sessions with children with ASD, giving a strong indication that it may be used in fostering emotion recognition and imitation skills.

scholarly journals ALTRIRAS: A Computer Game for Training Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Recognition of Basic Emotions

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro M. Almeida ◽  
Diego P. da Silva ◽  
Daieny P. Theodório ◽  
Wolley W. Silva ◽  
Silvia Cristina M. Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Computer Game ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Basic Emotions ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
System Usability Scale

This paper presents a computer game developed to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to recognize facial expressions associated with the four basic emotions: joy, sadness, anger, and surprise. This game named ALTRIRAS is a role-playing game (RPG), a kind of game pointed out by the literature as the most suitable for these children for being more social than competitive. It has recreational settings built with 2D graphic interface to keep the children’s attention and an access control and a register mechanism to allow the monitoring of the child’s progress. The data collection of the functional, nonfunctional, psychological, and educational requirements, as well as the evaluation of its consistency and usability, was made by a multidisciplinary team consisting of five experts in each of the following expertises: pedagogy, psychology, psychopedagogy, and game development. The effectiveness test of the game was performed by 10 children with ASD and 28 children with neurotypical development, which were separated into control and experimental groups, respectively. All experts and children with neurotypical development answered the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire after playing the game. The results were positive, between experts and volunteers regarding their acceptance. However, the time of exposure to the game in children with ASD should be increased to effective assistance in the recognition of facial expressions.

scholarly journals No Differences in Emotion Recognition Strategies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Hybrid Faces

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kris Evers ◽  
Inneke Kerkhof ◽  
Jean Steyaert ◽  
Ilse Noens ◽  
Johan Wagemans
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Face Region ◽  
Processing Strategies ◽  
Neutral Expression

Emotion recognition problems are frequently reported in individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, this research area is characterized by inconsistent findings, with atypical emotion processing strategies possibly contributing to existing contradictions. In addition, an attenuated saliency of the eyes region is often demonstrated in ASD during face identity processing. We wanted to compare reliance on mouth versus eyes information in children with and without ASD, using hybrid facial expressions. A group of six-to-eight-year-old boys with ASD and an age- and intelligence-matched typically developing (TD) group without intellectual disability performed an emotion labelling task with hybrid facial expressions. Five static expressions were used: one neutral expression and four emotional expressions, namely, anger, fear, happiness, and sadness. Hybrid faces were created, consisting of an emotional face half (upper or lower face region) with the other face half showing a neutral expression. Results showed no emotion recognition problem in ASD. Moreover, we provided evidence for the existence of top- and bottom-emotions in children: correct identification of expressions mainly depends on information in the eyes (so-called top-emotions: happiness) or in the mouth region (so-called bottom-emotions: sadness, anger, and fear). No stronger reliance on mouth information was found in children with ASD.

scholarly journals The Correlation Between the Set of Mental Functions and Emotion Recognition Skills Formation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
K.K. Mesnyankina ◽  
S.I. Anishchenko ◽  
K.B. Kalinin
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Mental Functions ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis

Research is devoted to revealing the relation of the complex of mental functions and their components with the ability to recognize emotions from facial expressions and with the success of learning this skill in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The set includes characteristics of the visual perception, properties of attention, properties of thinking and visual spatial analysis and synthesis. The study involved 19 children with ASD at the age of 6 to 12 years, including 2 girls and 17 boys. The training consisted of 12 sessions. Research showed that the success of emotion recognition from facial expressions in children with ASD associated with the level of development of visual spatial analysis and synthesis. It is also revealed that the success of emotion recognition training is connected with the level of development of visual spatial analysis and synthesis, abstract reasoning, and a concept formation.

scholarly journals Technology-Assisted Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder using Augmented Reality

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 2156-2162
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Social ◽  
Behavior Skills ◽  
And Behavior

Technology-assisted intervention has potentials in improving the social, communication and behavior impairments in of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Augmented reality (AR) offers multitude of possibilities and opportunities for the intervention of children with ASD. Therefore, this study identifies 13 researches from 2012 to 2018 that documented the efficacy of augmented reality applications in supporting the intervention of children with ASD. This study reviews the applications of augmented reality that nhanced the intervention for children with autism in (i) social skills, (ii) communication skills, and (iii) behavior skills. The conclusion reports the significant roles of augmented reality as technology-assisted intervention for children with ASD.

scholarly journals Anomalies in uncinate fasciculus development and social defects in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Li ◽  
Zhengbing Zhou ◽  
Chen Chang ◽  
Lu Qian ◽  
Chunyan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Deficits ◽  
Uncinate Fasciculus ◽  
Social Deficit ◽  
Children With Asd

Abstract Background Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have social interaction deficits and difficulties in emotional regulation. The neural substrates for these socio-affective deficits are not yet clear, but one potential candidate is maldevelopment of the uncinate fasciculus (UF), a white matter tract thought to be involved in socio-affective processing. However, the developmental trajectory of the UF in young children with social interaction deficits has not been examined. The present study was designed to describe the developmental growth trajectory of the UF and the relationships between UF development and social deficits in ASD. Methods Eigenvalues of the UF were measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based tractography in 37 children with ASD and 27 matched 2–3-year-old subjects with developmental delay (DD) at baseline (time 1) and at 2-year follow-up (time 2). Growth rates of the UF were compared between groups and associations with social deficit scores according to the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) analyzed by Pearson’s correlations. Results At time 1, axial diffusivity (AD) of the left UF was significantly larger in the ASD group than the DD group. At time 2, left UF fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly higher and radial diffusivity (RD) significantly lower in the ASD group than the DD group. The rate of UF growth during this 2-year interval was faster in children with ASD than DD. Significant negative correlations were found between the rise in ADI-R social deficit measures and both right UF RD and left UF mean diffusivity (MD). Conclusions Young children with ASD demonstrate UF overgrowth during the 2-year development period between 2 and 3 and 4–5 years of age, and this white matter abnormality is directly associated with the progression of social deficits. Trial registration World Health Organization class I registered international clinical trial platform, ChiCTR-ROC-17012877.

Effects of a Multicomponent Peer Mediated Intervention on Social Communication of Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020 ◽  
pp. 001440292095376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana D. Dueñas ◽  
Joshua B. Plavnick ◽  
Howard Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Probe Design ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Social Initiations ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Peer Mediated Intervention

The absence of direct intervention and peer and staff training can contribute to social isolation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Effective interventions are needed to realize the benefits of inclusive education. This study examines the effects of a multicomponent, peer-mediated intervention on the social communication behaviors of children with ASD and their typical peers in inclusive preschool classrooms. A multiple-probe design across three dyads was used to examine the effects of the multicomponent intervention on social initiations and social communication exchanges. Improved social communication exchanges between children with ASD and their peers resulted for each dyad. In contrast to previous research, children with ASD demonstrated increased social initiations but less positive effects for social responses. The study contributes to an emerging body of literature that examines the effects of multicomponent peer-mediated interventions on social communication among preschool children with ASD.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Play-Based Interventions Targeting the Social Communication Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Educational Contexts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina O’Keeffe ◽  
Sinéad McNally
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Communication Skills ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
The Social

AbstractChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience social communication difficulties which can be compounded by increased social demands and expectations of the school environment. Play offers a unique context for social communication development in educational settings. This systematic review aimed to synthesize play-based interventions for the social communication skills of children with ASD in educational contexts and identified nine studies. Overall, studies in this review provided a promising evidence base for supporting social communication skills through play in education for children with ASD. The review also highlighted gaps in research on play-based interventions for the social communication skills of children with ASD within naturalistic educational settings.

scholarly journals A Pilot Study Using Two Novel fMRI Tasks: Understanding Theory of Mind and Emotion Recognition Among Children With ASD

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Han ◽  
Patricia A. Prelock ◽  
Emily L. Coderre ◽  
Joseph M. Orr
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Neuroimaging Data

AbstractChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle with social interactions due to deficits in theory of mind (ToM). In this study, we collected behavioral and neuroimaging data from 9 children with ASD and 19 neurotypical children between the age of 7 and 14 years old, particularly in the area of emotion recognition to better understand those skills needed for meaningful social interaction. The results suggest impaired abilities in multiple ToM metrics and brain deficits associated with ToM-related emotion recognition and processing among children with ASD. Findings from this study are expected to establish connections between behavior and brain activities surrounding ToM in ASD, which may assist the development of neuroanatomical diagnostic criteria and provide a way to measure intervention outcomes.

scholarly journals Priming the Pathway: Combining Oxytocin and Behavioral Intervention to Improve Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Kuhl Meltzoff Stavropoulos ◽  
Elizabeth Baker
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Children With Asd

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social-communication deficits and the presence of restricted interests and/or repetitive behaviors. There are currently no psychopharmacological agents approved to treat core symptoms of ASD. As such, behavioral interventions are the most effective method for improving symptoms. In the current chapter, we propose that administering the neuropeptide oxytocin in conjunction with evidence-based behavioral interventions may lead to improved outcomes in social-communication for children with ASD. From a mechanistic perspective, we hypothesize that oxytocin may “prime” social reward circuitry in the brain, thereby allowing behavioral interventions designed to increase social motivation/initiation to be more effective. Extant literature related to theories of ASD, oxytocin administration in children with ASD, and behavioral intervention outcomes are reviewed, and considerations for individual characteristics (e.g., genetics, oxytocin availability, age, behavioral profile, etc.) that may affect efficacy are discussed.

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