Comparing Imitation and Stereotyped Behaviors in Autistic Children: Robots vs. Human Operators
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Virtual QT is a social robot designed to interact with humans in social and educational contexts. Equipped with visual and vocal interfaces, the robot can recognize and respond to various human inputs, providing emotional support and social interaction.
It uses facial expressions, gestures, and movements to communicate, encouraging engagement and supporting learning through playful and educational activities. Its ergonomic design and interactive approach make it suitable for both clinical and educational settings.
The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the QTrobot in interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to assess whether children's attention and imitation are equally effective with the QTrobot compared to interacting with a human being.
Furthermore, the presence of significant differences between motor and expressive imitation, when interacting with the robot as opposed to a human interlocutor, will be investigated. A key aspect of this investigation is to assess whether the presence of the QTrobot can positively influence the repetitive or stereotyped behaviors exhibited by the children, compared to interaction with a person. Additionally, to further understanding, the children's heart rate will be monitored through the use of a sensor that will allow to evaluate how heart rate affects performance outcomes during interaction with the QTrobot and with a human being.
In this study, children will be recruited to take part in two separate sessions, both involving the same task. During the first session, the task will be carried out between the child and the human operator. Subsequently, in the same task, the child will interact with the QT robot. Throughout both task administrations, the child will wear a sensor to detect their heart rate. Furthermore, all task sessions will be video-recorded to conduct subsequent video analysis and make notes on imitation behaviors and stereotypical actions relevant to the study.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Children with autism spectrum condition Thirty Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children with medium-high functioning, aged 4 to 13 years, IQ > 75, in the absence of motor deficits due to another clinical condition. |
Other: QT robot
In a single session each child will be video-recorded while performing the task. The participant subjects will perform the same task at two different times, once with the human operator and once with the Qt robot. Both tasks will have a duration of approximately 4 minutes. During the first minute, both the operator and the Qt will introduce themselves and ask four questions to the child to deepen the acquaintance. In the second minute, the operator/Qt will tell a story. In the third minute, the operator/Qt will ask to imitate 4 motor movements, while in the fourth minute, the operator/Qt will ask to imitate 4 facial expressions.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Video analysis of performance [The video analysis needs approximately 15 minutes per child]
The videos of the interviews were analyzed by a single observer. For each child, the observer evaluated both the child's interactions, one with a person and another with the robot. The assessment included the child's attention, measured by the frequency and duration of the child's gazes towards the interaction partner. Additionally, the observer recorded the number of imitations of the partner's actions, limited to a maximum of four imitations. Finally, to evaluate repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, the observer counted the sequences of these behaviors and the number of repetitions within each sequence. A sequence was defined as a continuous repetition of the same behavior type, with pauses or interruptions considered as separate sequences. If the child paused and resumed the same or a different behavior, each restart was counted as a new sequence.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Heart rate [The test needs approximately 30 minutes]
The polar sensor detects the electrical activity of the heart and calculates heart rate in beats per minute (bpm).Typically it is worn on the wrist or chest.
- Heart rate variability [The test needs approximately 30 minutes]
The Polar sensor measures the time intervals between successive heart beats and calculates Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in milliseconds (ms). Typically it is worn on the wrist or chest.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Diagnosis of Autism
-
QI ≥ 75
Exclusion Criteria:
- Motor deficits due to another clinical condition
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB) - National Research Council (CNR) | Messina | Italy | 98164 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione Biomedica
- Comune di Messina
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Flavia Marino, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB) - National Research Council (CNR)
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Costa AP, Charpiot L, Lera FR, Ziafati P, Nazarikhorram A, van der Torre L, Steffgen GA (2018) Comparison between a person and a robot in the attention, imitation, and repetitive and stereotypical behaviors of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Proceedings workshop on Social human-robot interaction of human-care service robots at HRI2018
- Zheng Z, Young EM, Swanson AR, Weitlauf AS, Warren ZE, Sarkar N. Robot-Mediated Imitation Skill Training for Children With Autism. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2016 Jun;24(6):682-91. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2015.2475724. Epub 2015 Sep 3.
- Zorcec T, Ilijoski B, Simlesa S, Ackovska N, Rosandic M, Popcevic K, Robins B, Nitzan N, Cappel D, Blum R. Enriching Human-Robot Interaction with Mobile App in Interventions of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Pril (Makedon Akad Nauk Umet Odd Med Nauki). 2021 Oct 26;42(2):51-59. doi: 10.2478/prilozi-2021-0021.
- CNR-IRIB-PRO-2023-005