For the first time in the world, the humanoid robot iCub, developed and built by researchers at IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology), is entering a re- routines to participate in experimental therapy for the treatment of mental disorders in children with autism spectrum condition.
The experimental protocol was described by the IIT team “Social Cognition in Human-Robot Interaction”, led by researcher Agnieszka Wykowska, in collaboration with the rehabilitation team of the Boggiano Pico-Opera Center Don Orione in Genova, a health care center that specializes in the treatment of various neurodevelopmental conditions. The first phase of treatment will involve 50 children and will last until June 2021.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASC) is a very complex condition that begins in childhood and tends to progress into adolescence and adulthood. It is present in about 1% of the world’s population. The WHO estimated that one person worldwide has ASD. There is no known cure for ASC, but specific behavioral treatment can reduce problems in communication and social behavior, with a positive impact on people’s quality of life.
IIT and Opera Don Orione’s experimental training protocol was born from the idea of combining research and the most advanced technology for service to children and their families in a clinical context. The protocol features a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and treating ASC, where clinicians and researchers collaborated to integrate the use of the humanoid iCub robot in a pathway. therapeutic children with ASC.
IIT researchers, led by Agnieszka Wykowska, hypothesized that a humanoid robot like iCub could represent an easier replica to interact with, compared to another. This may be because a robot is a “simpler” version of a human and may not be as alarming in terms of the number of signals displayed in a behavior. Robots can be much more predictable and stereotypical in behavior – a feature that is very crucial for children diagnosed with ASC.
“A robot can repeat the same task, in the same way many times, that would be impossible for humans” – explains Agnieszka Wykowska, Coordinator of the Social Cognition team in Human Interaction -Robot of IIT. “Our activity at the Boggiano Pico Center reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary and the use of new technologies such as robots in a clinical context”.
The iCub robot will be used to help children develop the skills of taking a glance, that is, understanding the point of view of others. Of course, people with ASC may have difficulty in understanding the broad view of those in front of them, and this type of ability underpins many other social skills.
In particular, the training involves setting up a special board designed by the Wykowska team and built by the IIT mechanics workshop. The tablet is equipped with devices to allow interaction between the robot and the baby while handling objects. The board includes a removable tray for exchanging materials, a prominent “window” to ensure safe interaction, and foam cubes with different shapes and colors on each face.
“During training, the iCub robot swaps one of the foam cubes with the child and monitors one of his faces” explains Davide Ghiglino, IIT researcher in the Wykowska team . “The therapist then asks the patient what image or color on the front of the cube, depending on what he or she is, is looking at the robot.”
Of course, I can describe the position of things in relation to myself and, as a result, to another person. For those with autism spectrum condition, this potential may not be so fast. Having the ability to process spatial information in relation to a different point of view can help to develop skills related to a range of empathy, such as knowledge of one’s emotions, the control, recognize the feelings of others and manage relationships. “
Dr. Federica Floris, Psychologist, Boggiano Pico Center
The Boggiano Pico Center treats approximately 200 children and adolescents with various neurodevelopmental conditions, 80 of whom have been diagnosed with autism spectrum condition. The training predicts that 50 children will be involved in childhood, who will exhibit ASC in a unique way without other neurodevelopmental conditions. In each training session, the iCub robot supports the therapist and engages in the training to the extent that it is appropriate for each child’s specific skills. The treatment with the robot is integrated into treatment that includes other interventions on motor, socio-relationship and communication abilities, in accordance with national rehabilitation guidelines.
“The aim of the training is to test the effectiveness of new treatment protocols, integrating the currently recommended rehabilitation models for autism spectrum conditions with more specific social skills interventions. – explains Dr. Tiziana Priolo, pediatric neuropsychiatrist at the Boggiano Pico Center. ” In the longer term, the intention is to acquire new tools that will support the multidisciplinary team in caring for children and adolescents. The question we want to answer is: can robots and artificial intelligence be additional tools with which to acquire new skills and enhance the quality of life of children with autism spectrum conditions? “
The aim is, in the coming years, to further develop a number of training protocols that will help children with autism spectrum conditions to develop specific skills.
This collaboration enriches the context of the Center for Human Technologies of the Italian Institute of Technology (CHT-IIT @ Erzelli) which, also with the support of Regione Liguria, was created to connect the clinical and hospital environments of the region for movement. the results of a fundamental study of real-life contexts leading to profound effects on human well-being.
Source:
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology)