Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training
Several studies have found a delay in the development of facial emotion recognition and expression in children with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). Several interventions have been designed to help children to fill this gap. Most of them adopt technological devices (i.e., robots, computers, and a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678052/full |
| _version_ | 1818690871732731904 |
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| author | Flavia Lecciso Flavia Lecciso Annalisa Levante Annalisa Levante Rosa Angela Fabio Tindara Caprì Marco Leo Pierluigi Carcagnì Cosimo Distante Pier Luigi Mazzeo Paolo Spagnolo Serena Petrocchi |
| author_facet | Flavia Lecciso Flavia Lecciso Annalisa Levante Annalisa Levante Rosa Angela Fabio Tindara Caprì Marco Leo Pierluigi Carcagnì Cosimo Distante Pier Luigi Mazzeo Paolo Spagnolo Serena Petrocchi |
| author_sort | Flavia Lecciso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Several studies have found a delay in the development of facial emotion recognition and expression in children with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). Several interventions have been designed to help children to fill this gap. Most of them adopt technological devices (i.e., robots, computers, and avatars) as social mediators and reported evidence of improvement. Few interventions have aimed at promoting emotion recognition and expression abilities and, among these, most have focused on emotion recognition. Moreover, a crucial point is the generalization of the ability acquired during treatment to naturalistic interactions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two technological-based interventions focused on the expression of basic emotions comparing a robot-based type of training with a “hybrid” computer-based one. Furthermore, we explored the engagement of the hybrid technological device introduced in the study as an intermediate step to facilitate the generalization of the acquired competencies in naturalistic settings. A two-group pre-post-test design was applied to a sample of 12 children (M = 9.33; ds = 2.19) with autism. The children were included in one of the two groups: group 1 received a robot-based type of training (n = 6); and group 2 received a computer-based type of training (n = 6). Pre- and post-intervention evaluations (i.e., time) of facial expression and production of four basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, and anger) were performed. Non-parametric ANOVAs found significant time effects between pre- and post-interventions on the ability to recognize sadness [t(1) = 7.35, p = 0.006; pre: M (ds) = 4.58 (0.51); post: M (ds) = 5], and to express happiness [t(1) = 5.72, p = 0.016; pre: M (ds) = 3.25 (1.81); post: M (ds) = 4.25 (1.76)], and sadness [t(1) = 10.89, p < 0; pre: M (ds) = 1.5 (1.32); post: M (ds) = 3.42 (1.78)]. The group*time interactions were significant for fear [t(1) = 1.019, p = 0.03] and anger expression [t(1) = 1.039, p = 0.03]. However, Mann–Whitney comparisons did not show significant differences between robot-based and computer-based training. Finally, no difference was found in the levels of engagement comparing the two groups in terms of the number of voice prompts given during interventions. Albeit the results are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution, this study suggests that two types of technology-based training, one mediated via a humanoid robot and the other via a pre-settled video of a peer, perform similarly in promoting facial recognition and expression of basic emotions in children with an ASC. The findings represent the first step to generalize the abilities acquired in a laboratory-trained situation to naturalistic interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T12:32:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e70b4dfb8754de3b10c201cd0658757 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T12:32:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e70b4dfb8754de3b10c201cd06587572022-12-21T21:48:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-07-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.678052678052Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based TrainingFlavia Lecciso0Flavia Lecciso1Annalisa Levante2Annalisa Levante3Rosa Angela Fabio4Tindara Caprì5Marco Leo6Pierluigi Carcagnì7Cosimo Distante8Pier Luigi Mazzeo9Paolo Spagnolo10Serena Petrocchi11Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyLaboratory of Applied Psychology and Intervention, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyLaboratory of Applied Psychology and Intervention, University of Salento, Lecce, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, ItalyInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, Lecce, ItalyInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, Lecce, ItalyInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, Lecce, ItalyInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, Lecce, ItalyInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, National Research Council, Lecce, ItalyFaculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, SwitzerlandSeveral studies have found a delay in the development of facial emotion recognition and expression in children with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). Several interventions have been designed to help children to fill this gap. Most of them adopt technological devices (i.e., robots, computers, and avatars) as social mediators and reported evidence of improvement. Few interventions have aimed at promoting emotion recognition and expression abilities and, among these, most have focused on emotion recognition. Moreover, a crucial point is the generalization of the ability acquired during treatment to naturalistic interactions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two technological-based interventions focused on the expression of basic emotions comparing a robot-based type of training with a “hybrid” computer-based one. Furthermore, we explored the engagement of the hybrid technological device introduced in the study as an intermediate step to facilitate the generalization of the acquired competencies in naturalistic settings. A two-group pre-post-test design was applied to a sample of 12 children (M = 9.33; ds = 2.19) with autism. The children were included in one of the two groups: group 1 received a robot-based type of training (n = 6); and group 2 received a computer-based type of training (n = 6). Pre- and post-intervention evaluations (i.e., time) of facial expression and production of four basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, and anger) were performed. Non-parametric ANOVAs found significant time effects between pre- and post-interventions on the ability to recognize sadness [t(1) = 7.35, p = 0.006; pre: M (ds) = 4.58 (0.51); post: M (ds) = 5], and to express happiness [t(1) = 5.72, p = 0.016; pre: M (ds) = 3.25 (1.81); post: M (ds) = 4.25 (1.76)], and sadness [t(1) = 10.89, p < 0; pre: M (ds) = 1.5 (1.32); post: M (ds) = 3.42 (1.78)]. The group*time interactions were significant for fear [t(1) = 1.019, p = 0.03] and anger expression [t(1) = 1.039, p = 0.03]. However, Mann–Whitney comparisons did not show significant differences between robot-based and computer-based training. Finally, no difference was found in the levels of engagement comparing the two groups in terms of the number of voice prompts given during interventions. Albeit the results are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution, this study suggests that two types of technology-based training, one mediated via a humanoid robot and the other via a pre-settled video of a peer, perform similarly in promoting facial recognition and expression of basic emotions in children with an ASC. The findings represent the first step to generalize the abilities acquired in a laboratory-trained situation to naturalistic interactions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678052/fullnew technologyautism spectrum disordersocial skillsemotion recognitionemotion expressionrobot |
| spellingShingle | Flavia Lecciso Flavia Lecciso Annalisa Levante Annalisa Levante Rosa Angela Fabio Tindara Caprì Marco Leo Pierluigi Carcagnì Cosimo Distante Pier Luigi Mazzeo Paolo Spagnolo Serena Petrocchi Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training Frontiers in Psychology new technology autism spectrum disorder social skills emotion recognition emotion expression robot |
| title | Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training |
| title_full | Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training |
| title_fullStr | Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training |
| title_short | Emotional Expression in Children With ASD: A Pre-Study on a Two-Group Pre-Post-Test Design Comparing Robot-Based and Computer-Based Training |
| title_sort | emotional expression in children with asd a pre study on a two group pre post test design comparing robot based and computer based training |
| topic | new technology autism spectrum disorder social skills emotion recognition emotion expression robot |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678052/full |
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