Simone Di Palma1, Alessandro Tonacci2, Antonio Narzisi3, Claudio Domenici4, Giovanni Pioggia5, Filippo Muratori3, Lucia Billeci6. 1. University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. 2. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: atonacci@ifc.cnr.it. 3. Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Stella Maris Scientific Institute, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy. 4. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy. 5. National Research Council of Italy, Messina, Italy. 6. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Pisa, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) represent a heterogeneous set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social domain, where the autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role. Several researchers have studied the ANS in ASD, during specific cognitive or sensory stimuli while few studies have examined response during social interactions. Wearable technologies can be very helpful in monitoring autonomic response in children with ASD in semi-naturalistic setting. The novelty of this study is to use such technologies to acquire physiological signals during therapeutic sessions supported by interactive "serious games" and to correlate the ANS response to the engagement of the child during sociocognitive tasks for an evaluation of the treatment effect and for the personalization of the therapy. METHOD: A wearable chest belt for electrocardiographic (ECG) signal recording was used and specific algorithms for the extraction of clinically relevant features (Heart Rate - HR, Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences - RMSSD and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia - RSA) were developed. Sociocognitive tasks were mediated by "serious games" implemented on two tablets, which allowed a precise coding of the behaviors of the children. A longitudinal assessment of the physiological response of the children during six months of treatment was performed. RESULTS: A link between physiological response, i.e. decrease in RMSSD and RSA, and engagement of the children during sociocognitive tasks was found. Longitudinal changes in the children's autonomic response, including a decrease of RSA during the engagement throughout the therapeutic sessions, were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results foster the feasibility of this methodology to be applied in a clinical setting for the monitoring of the ANS response of children with ASD during treatment. A larger sample of patients is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
BACKGROUND:Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) represent a heterogeneous set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social domain, where the autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role. Several researchers have studied the ANS in ASD, during specific cognitive or sensory stimuli while few studies have examined response during social interactions. Wearable technologies can be very helpful in monitoring autonomic response in children with ASD in semi-naturalistic setting. The novelty of this study is to use such technologies to acquire physiological signals during therapeutic sessions supported by interactive "serious games" and to correlate the ANS response to the engagement of the child during sociocognitive tasks for an evaluation of the treatment effect and for the personalization of the therapy. METHOD: A wearable chest belt for electrocardiographic (ECG) signal recording was used and specific algorithms for the extraction of clinically relevant features (Heart Rate - HR, Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences - RMSSD and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia - RSA) were developed. Sociocognitive tasks were mediated by "serious games" implemented on two tablets, which allowed a precise coding of the behaviors of the children. A longitudinal assessment of the physiological response of the children during six months of treatment was performed. RESULTS: A link between physiological response, i.e. decrease in RMSSD and RSA, and engagement of the children during sociocognitive tasks was found. Longitudinal changes in the children's autonomic response, including a decrease of RSA during the engagement throughout the therapeutic sessions, were found. CONCLUSIONS: These results foster the feasibility of this methodology to be applied in a clinical setting for the monitoring of the ANS response of children with ASD during treatment. A larger sample of patients is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
Authors: Heather J Nuske; Matthew S Goodwin; Yelena Kushleyeva; Daniel Forsyth; Jeffrey W Pennington; Aaron J Masino; Emma Finkel; Anushua Bhattacharya; Jessica Tan; Hungtzu Tai; Zabryna Atkinson-Diaz; Christopher P Bonafide; John D Herrington Journal: Autism Res Date: 2021-11-06 Impact factor: 4.633
Authors: Melissa H Black; Benjamin Milbourn; Nigel T M Chen; Sarah McGarry; Fatema Wali; Armilda S V Ho; Mika Lee; Sven Bölte; Torbjorn Falkmer; Sonya Girdler Journal: Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol Date: 2020-07-02
Authors: Lucia Billeci; Alessandro Tonacci; Gennaro Tartarisco; Antonio Narzisi; Simone Di Palma; Daniele Corda; Giovanni Baldus; Federico Cruciani; Salvatore M Anzalone; Sara Calderoni; Giovanni Pioggia; Filippo Muratori Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2016-06-21 Impact factor: 4.677