Assessing the viability of studying motion indicators of autism spectrum disorders in infants at high and low risk for ASD using a passive motion capture system

Gemstone Team AMIRA

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of socially debilitating disorders that affect 1 in 110 children. Researchers have long understood that early diagnosis and intervention lead to the best possible outcome for children with ASD, compelling researchers to develop early diagnostic methods. Researchers believe that a better understanding of the effect of ASD on movement will aid in developing these early diagnostic techniques. To assist in understanding the effect of ASD on movement, our team performed a proof of concept study to determine if a passive motion capture system can be used to characterize motion indicators of ASD. To accomplish this goal, our team analyzed three distinct movements in infants, six to twelve months, at high and low risk for ASD. We determined that passive motion capture systems can characterize movement indicators of infants at high and low risk for ASD.