Robot and virtual reality-based intervention in autism: a comprehensive review

Abu-Amara, Fadi; Mohammad, Heba; Tamimi, Hatem

doi:10.1007/s41870-021-00740-9

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…This is not possible in (real) social environments. This approach is in line with recent literature on assistive robotics for individuals with ASD, which has flourished in the recent 20 years, highlighting the unique nature of humanoids, compared to other assistive technologies (Abu‐Amara et al, 2021; Saleh et al, 2021). Indeed, in the past decade, several technologies have been tested to enhance social cognition in individuals with ASD (Valencia et al, 2019), such as virtual reality (Mesa‐Gresa et al, 2018), or tablet applications (Ledbetter‐Cho et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Artificial scaffolding: Augmenting social cognition by means of robot technology

Ghiglino

Floris²,

Tommaso

et al. 2023

Autism Research

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The concept of scaffolding refers to the support that the environment provides in the acquisition and consolidation of new abilities. Technological advancements allow for support in the acquisition of cognitive capabilities, such as second language acquisition using simple smartphone applications There is, however, one domain of cognition that has been scarcely addressed in the context of technologically assisted scaffolding: social cognition. We explored the possibility of supporting the acquisition of social competencies of a group of children with autism spectrum disorder engaged in a rehabilitation program (age = 5.8 ± 1.14, 10 females, 33 males) by designing two robot‐assisted training protocols tailored to Theory of Mind competencies. One protocol was performed with a humanoid robot and the other (control) with a non‐anthropomorphic robot. We analyzed changes in NEPSY‐II scores before and after the training using mixed effects models. Our results showed that activities with the humanoid significantly improved NEPSY‐II scores on the ToM scale. We claim that the motor repertoire of humanoids makes them ideal platforms for artificial scaffolding of social skills in individuals with autism, as they can evoke similar social mechanisms to those elicited in human‐human interaction, without providing the same social pressure that another human might exert.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Artificial scaffolding: Augmenting social cognition by means of robot technology

Ghiglino

Floris²,

Tommaso

et al. 2023

Autism Research

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show abstract

“…This is not possible in (real) social environments. This approach is in line with recent literature on assistive robotics for individuals with ASD, which has flourished in the recent twenty years, highlighting the unique nature of humanoids, compared to other assistive technologies (Saleh, Hanapiah, & Hashim, 2021;Abu-Amara et al, 2021). Indeed, in the past decade, several technologies have been tested to enhance social cognition in individuals with ASD (Valencia et al, 2019), such as virtual reality (Mesa-Gresa et al, 2018), or tablet applications (Ledbetter-Cho et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Artificial scaffolding: Augmenting social cognition by means of robot technology (Supplementary Materials)

Ghiglino¹,

Floris²,

Tommaso³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The concept of scaffolding refers to the support that the environment provides in the acquisition and consolidation of new abilities . Technological advancements allow for support in the acquisition of cognitive capabilities, such as second language acquisition using simple smartphone applications There is, however, one domain of cognition that has been scarcely addressed in the context of technologically-assisted scaffolding: social cognition. We explored the possibility of supporting the acquisition of social competencies of a group of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder engaged in a rehabilitation program (Age = 5.8 ± 1.14, 10 Females, 33 Males) by designing two robot-assisted training protocols tailored to Theory of Mind competencies. One protocol was performed with a humanoid robot and the other (control) with a non-anthropomorphic robot. We analysed changes in NEPSY-II scores before and after the training using mixed effects models. Our results showed that activities with the humanoid significantly improved NEPSY-II scores on the ToM scale. We claim that the motor repertoire of humanoids makes them ideal platforms for artificial scaffolding of social skills in individuals with autism, as they can evoke similar social mechanisms to those elicited in human-human interaction, without providing the same social pressure that another human might exert.

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“…In a broader perspective, the aim of our study is to provide indications on the potential use of IVE-based treatment in ASD. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of VR/MR technologies in clinical and educational contexts for autism, demonstrating how the use of ICT-based devices are more engaging, attractive and motivating for people with ASD [ 56 , 119 , 120 ]. Different from other studies on the use of immersive virtual environments in the treatment of ASC based on self-reports, this study relies on behavioral observation to avoid potential errors and biases due to the difficulty of people with ASD to reflect and report on their behavior and emotions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Evaluation of Engagement in Immersive Applications When Users Are on the Autism Spectrum

Tarantino

Attanasio

Mascio

et al. 2023

Sensors

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New generation wearable devices allow for the development of interactive environments tailored for Virtual Reality (VR)– and Augmented Reality (AR)–based treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Experts agree on their potential; however, there is lack of consensus on how to perform trials and the need arises for evaluation frameworks, methods, and techniques appropriate for the ASD population. In this paper, we report on a study conducted with high-functioning ASD people in the 21–23 age range, with the objectives of (1) evaluating the engagement of two headsets offering distinct immersive experiences, (2) reasoning on the interpretation of engagement factors in the case of ASD people, and (3) translating results into general guidelines for the development of VR/AR-based ASD treatment. To this aim, we (1) designed two engagement evaluation frameworks based on behavioral observation measures, (2) set up two packages of reference immersive scenarios, (3) defined the association between metrics and scenarios, and (4) administered the scenarios in distinct sessions for the investigated headsets. Results show that the immersive experiences are engaging and that the apparent lack of success of some evaluation factors can become potential advantages within the framework of VR/AR-based ASD treatment design.

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Robot and virtual reality-based intervention in autism: a comprehensive review

Cited by 18 publications

References 63 publications

Artificial scaffolding: Augmenting social cognition by means of robot technology

Artificial scaffolding: Augmenting social cognition by means of robot technology

Artificial scaffolding: Augmenting social cognition by means of robot technology (Supplementary Materials)

On the Evaluation of Engagement in Immersive Applications When Users Are on the Autism Spectrum

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