Abstract:

Many individuals with Autism have trouble understanding the intent of others actions and how these actions fit into their own lives. Researchers have identified mirror neuron dysfunction in individuals with Autism via electroencephalography. (Oberman, Hubbard, et. al, 2005.) In the brain of an individual not diagnosed with Autism, mu wave suppression occurs when they engage in and process various activities and when they view others engaging in activities. In the brain of an individual diagnosed with Autism, mu wave suppression occurs only when they engage in an activity, not when they witness another individual’s action. Current social story applications only show others engaging in appropriate behavior in public settings. I am proposing the creation of electronic social stories that allow the superimposition of individual’s images along with their family members and teacher’s images. Video games could also be created utilizing the same technology. This technology could be accompanied by a pressure cuff and/or a vibrating cuff that would be activated when a correct response is given. The utilization of these adaptations could be faded throughout the use of the video game, creating a classical conditioning scenario. The pressure cuffs and/or vibrating cuff may create an autonomic response that is elicited as a hormonal release (possibly oxytocin.) If this hormone release occurs, the individual may be more prone to making the choices they were rewarded for in the video game in real life.

References:
Oberman, L. M., Hubbard, E. M., Mccleery, J. P., Altschuler, E. L., Ramachandran, V. S., & Pineda, J. A. (2005). EEG evidence for mirror neuron dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders. Cognitive Brain Research, 24(2), 190-190-198. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/64644944?accountid=13158

Keywords:

Autism, technology, applications, mirror neuron dysfunction.