Autism from a Biometric Perspective

Nataliya Kostyuk, Rajendram V. Rajnarayanan, Raphael D. Isokpehi and Hari H. Cohly
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Nataliya Kostyuk: Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Box 18540, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Rajendram V. Rajnarayanan: School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Raphael D. Isokpehi: Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Box 18540, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Hari H. Cohly: Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch Street, Box 18540, Jackson, MS 39217, USA

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Purpose :The aim of this pilot study was to test autistic children, siblings and their parents using a biometric device based on the gas discharge visualization (GDV) technique in order to assess their psycho-emotional and physiological functional state based on the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Hypothesis : We hypothesize that the biometric assessment based on GDV will enable us: (1) to evaluate some specific features associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as to compare autistic children to their siblings and to controls; (2) to analyze the differences in individual values of parents of autistic children versus parents of normal children. Results : Out of total of 48 acupuncture points present on ten fingertips of both hands and associated to organs/organ systems, autistic children differed significantly from controls (p Conclusions : All compared groups have shown significant difference on both psycho-emotional (images without filter) and physiological (images with filter) levels. However, the differences between autistic children and controls expressed on psycho-emotional level were the most significant as compared to the other groups. Therefore, the activity of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system is significantly altered in children with autism. The biometric method based on GDV is a promising step in autism research that may lead towards creating a disease profile and identify unique signature/biomarker for autism. Further work should involve more participants in order to augment our findings.

Keywords: autism; biometric evaluation; electro-photonic emission; gas discharge visualization (GDV) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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