Computer-analyzed facial expression as a surrogate marker for autism spectrum social core symptoms

Keiho Owada, Masaki Kojima, Walid Yassin, Miho Kuroda, Yuki Kawakubo, Hitoshi Kuwabara, Yukiko Kano and Hidenori Yamasue

PLOS ONE, 2018, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: To develop novel interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core symptoms, valid, reliable, and sensitive longitudinal outcome measures are required for detecting symptom change over time. Here, we tested whether a computerized analysis of quantitative facial expression measures could act as a marker for core ASD social symptoms. Facial expression intensity values during a semi-structured socially interactive situation extracted from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) were quantified by dedicated software in 18 high-functioning adult males with ASD. Controls were 17 age-, gender-, parental socioeconomic background-, and intellectual level-matched typically developing (TD) individuals. Statistical analyses determined whether values representing the strength and variability of each facial expression element differed significantly between the ASD and TD groups and whether they correlated with ADOS reciprocal social interaction scores. Compared with the TD controls, facial expressions in the ASD group appeared more “Neutral” (d = 1.02, P = 0.005, PFDR 0.05) with lower variability in Happy expression (d = 1.10, P = 0.003, PFDR

Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0190442

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190442

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