This could revolutionize autism detection.
A recent study suggests that how children react to certain types of movement could serve as an early indicator of autism. Researchers discovered that children with signs of autism showed a stronger preference for watching repetitive motions compared to random ones. This finding was based on eye-tracking data collected while children viewed side-by-side videos featuring predictable and unpredictable shape movements.
The study involved a short two-minute video task, which researchers believe could become a helpful screening tool during routine pediatric check-ups. This method may aid in identifying children at risk for autism as early as age 3. According to Mikimasa Omori, an associate professor at Waseda University in Japan and lead researcher on the study, this technique could help detect autism earlier, particularly in cases where diagnosis is typically delayed.
To conduct the research, Omori and his team observed 17 children suspected of having autism and 11 typically developing peers. The children were shown videos featuring geometric shapes — such as circles, triangles, and stars — that moved in either a consistent, predictable pattern or a random, disordered sequence. Children without autism showed equal interest in both types of movement, while those with suspected autism increasingly focused on the repetitive patterns as the video progressed.
This preference for predictable patterns aligns with known traits of autism, such as a tendency toward repetitive behavior. Traditional early screening often relies on identifying social and communication difficulties, such as lack of eye contact or delayed speech. Omori believes incorporating a movement-based test could enhance current diagnostic practices by offering a non-verbal and more objective behavioral marker.
The researchers also noted that since the task doesn’t rely on spoken responses, it could potentially be adapted for use with children younger than 18 months. They emphasize the importance of additional studies to validate the method across broader age groups and to deepen the understanding of how children with autism process patterns and predictability in their environment.
Discussion about this post