Vanderbilt University researchers are experimenting with using robots to take over some of the behavioral therapy that is one of the most time-consuming and expensive aspects of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) treatment.

Their method uses physiological measurements, including heart rate, changes in the electrical properties of the skin (galvanic skin response), temperature and muscle response, to monitor the emotional state of individuals.

The researchers report that the physiological data can be used to develop mathematical models for each individual that can predict his or her emotional states of liking, anxiety and engagement with an accuracy of better than 80 percent. And this information can be used in real time to alter the game configuration in ways that significantly increase the children’s degree of engagement.