Identification of sensory-motor patterns of autism
Project team
Dr Ekaterina Ivanova – Lecturer in Human Machine Interaction (EECS)
Prof Rachael Bedford – Biological and Experimental Psychology (SBBS)
Daniel Gill – PhD student (EECS)
Project description
The main objective of this project is to investigate differences in interaction motion patterns between neurotypical and autistic adults. Haptic communication (HC), the exchange of task-relevant information through touch and forces, is fundamental to human motor interaction and supports motor performance and learning, yet its characteristics in autistic adults remain unexplored. Autism affects social and motor coordination, potentially altering HC patterns. This pilot study will systematically compare HC in autistic and neurotypical adults, generating proof-of-concept data on measurable visuomotor differences. Findings will establish the feasibility of this approach and provide preliminary evidence to inform larger-scale studies, ultimately aiming to develop objective, motion-based biomarkers for earlier, more efficient autism diagnosis.
How did the team come together?
Katja was looking for a second supervisor with a psychology background for her PhD student, Daniel, and a colleague in EECS recommended Rachael. Katja and Rachael met at an event and started discussing the topic, and felt that it was a good match for their shared knowledge.
How did you decide on this question/topic?
Katja has expertise in haptic communication and human-robot interaction, including a background working on haptic-human interaction in assistive devices for stroke patients. Rachael has a focus on transdiagnostic mechanisms in neurodevelopmental conditions (such as autism) and identifying modifiable factors for personalised interventions. Daniel’s PhD research fits within the overlap of these two areas, and being autistic himself, supports the team with lived experience. The team has a shared interest in the topic, but also different interests in what the data can speak to about the mechanisms of development in autistic individuals.
What activities will you undertake as part of this project?
This pilot study will recruit autistic adults and neurotypical controls to complete motor tasks using a dual robotic interface simulating a virtual elastic connection between two participants. Participants will perform target-tracking tasks individually and in dyads while force, motion, muscle activity, and eye-gaze data are recorded. The tasks are designed to isolate haptic communication while minimising other communication channels. Pilot testing will iteratively refine protocols to ensure feasibility and comfort for autistic participants. Collected data will be analysed for accuracy, smoothness, force modulation, and other interaction metrics using statistical and machine learning methods to identify preliminary group differences and potential motor biomarkers.
The project team will meet at key points throughout the pilot to make sure that different perspectives are integrated into the project design, including making sure that the project is participant friendly.