Application of eye-tracking technique in the rehabilitation evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorder

ZHANG Yaru; SHAO Zhi; YANG Guang

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0404

PDF(691 KB)

Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2025, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (11) : 1228-1232. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0404

Review

Application of eye-tracking technique in the rehabilitation evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorder

ZHANG Yaru^1,2, SHAO Zhi^1,2, YANG Guang²

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as limited and repetitive behavioral patterns. Due to the unknown etiology and high heterogeneity, the current evaluation of the rehabilitation effect of children with ASD is still mainly based on direct observation and assessment of children′s behaviors. Exploring a more objective evaluation method of rehabilitation effect is not only a powerful evidence to judge whether the treatment is effective, but also can provide more reference indicators for the formulation of intervention plans. Eye-tracking technology, with its non-invasive nature, high precision, ease of use, and high degree of freedom, shows considerable potential for evaluating the rehabilitation outcomes in children with ASD. This article reviews the research, specific advantages, and current applications of eye-tracking technology in assessing the rehabilitation outcomes in children with ASD, aiming to provide methods and perspectives for studying the physiological and psychological characteristics of these children and the objective evaluation of clinical interventions effects.

Key words

autism spectrum disorder / eye-tracking technique / rehabilitation evaluation

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

ZHANG Yaru, SHAO Zhi, YANG Guang. Application of eye-tracking technique in the rehabilitation evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorder[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2025, 33(11): 1228-1232 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2024-0404

References

[1] American PA.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders[M].5th ed.Arlington,VA,USA:American Psychiatric Publishing,2013.
[2] 静进.孤独症谱系障碍的治疗干预现状与建议[J].中国儿童保健杂志,2023,31(9):939-944.
Jing J,Treatment and intervention of autism spectrum disorder in China and suggenstions for further practice[J].Chin J Child Health Care,2023,31(9):939-944.(in Chinese)
[3] Mcpartland JC,Bernier RA,Jeste SS,et al.The autism biomarkers consortium for clinical trials (ABC-CT):Scientific context,study design,and progress toward biomarker qualification[J].Front Integr Neurosci,2020,4(14):1-7.
[4] 邵智,静进.儿童自闭症康复治疗学[M].重庆:西南师范大学出版社,2019.
[5] Chetcuti L,Varcin KJ,Boutrus M,et al.Feasibility of a 2-minute eye-tracking protocol to support the early identification of autism[J].Sci Rep,2024,14(5117):1-14.
[6] 苟超,卓莹,王康,等.眼动跟踪研究进展与展望[J].自动化学报,2022,48(5):1173-1192.
Gou C,Zhuo Y,Wang K.Research advances and prospects of eye tracking[J].Acta Automatica Sinica,2022,48(5):1173-1192.(in Chinese)
[7] Tahri SM,Aslonov B,Gafurov M,et al.Eye tracking technology in medical practice: A perspective on its diverse applications[J].Front Med Technol,2023,5(11):1-6.
[8] Venker CE,Pomper R,Mahr T,et al.Comparing automatic eye tracking and manual gaze coding methods in young children with autism spectrum disorder[J].Autism Res,2020,13(2):271-283.
[9] 陈梦想,郭岚敏.孤独症谱系障碍表观遗传机制的最新研究进展[J].中华神经医学杂志,2023,22(5):513-517.
Chen MX,Guo LM.Recent advance in epigenetic mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder[J].Chin J Neuromed,2023,22(5):513-517.(in Chinese)
[10] Zhuang H,Liang Z,Ma G, et al.Autism spectrum disorder:Pathogenesis,biomarker,and intervention therapy[J].MedComm,2024,5(3):1-38.
[11] 李菲蓉,陈友庆.基于眼动研究的孤独症谱系障碍的早期预测[J].中国儿童保健杂志,2020,28(1): 48-51.
Li FR.Chen YQ.The study of abnormal face processing and recognition in children with autism spectrum disorder based on eye tracking technology[J].Chin J Child Health Care.2020,28(1):48-51.(in Chinese)
[12] Liaqat S,Wu C,Duggirala PR,et al.Predicting ASD diagnosis in children with synthetic and image-based eye gaze data[J].Signal Process Image Commun,2021,5(94):116198-116208.
[13] 程蓉,赵众,侯文文,等.不同意图场景眼动注视模式机器学习算法识别孤独症谱系障碍的研究[J].中国当代儿科杂志,2024,26(2):151-157.
Cheng R.Zhao Z,Hou WW,et al.Machine learning algorithms for identifying autism spectrum disorder through eye tracking in different intention videos[J].Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2024,26(2):151-157.(in Chinese)
[14] Bradshaw J,Shic F,Holden AN,et al.The use of eye tracking as a biomarker of treatment outcome in a pilot randomized cinical trial for young children with autism[J].Autism Res,2019,12(5):779-793.
[15] Perochon S,Di Martino JM,Carpenter KLH,et al.Early detection of autism using digital behavioral phenotyping[J].Nat Med,2023,29(10):2489-2497.
[16] Latrèche K,Kojovic N,Franchini M,et al.Attention to face as a predictor of developmental change and treatment outcome in young children with autism spectrum disorder[J].Biomedicines,2021,9(8):1-22.
[17] Hedger N,Chakrabarti B.Autistic differences in the temporal dynamics of social attention[J].Autism, 2021,25(6):1615-1626.
[18] Del BT,Mason L,Charman T,et al.Temporal profiles of social attention are different across development in autistic and neurotypical people[J].Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging,2021,6(8):813-824.
[19] Mori T,Tsuchiya KJ,Harada T,et al.Autism symptoms, functional impairments, and gaze fixation measured using an eye-tracker in 6-year-old children[J].Front Psychiatry,2023,10(14):1-11.
[20] Kang J,Han X,Hu J,et al.The study of the differences between low-functioning autistic children and typically developing children in the processing of the own-race and other-race faces by the machine learning approach[J].J Clin Neurosci,2020,9(81):54-60.
[21] Bochet A,Franchini M,Kojovic N,et al.Emotional vs.neutral face exploration and habituation:An eye-tracking study of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders[J].Front Psychiatry,2021,1(11):1-13.
[22] Ishizaki Y,Higuchi T,Yanagimoto Y, et al.Eye gaze differences in school scenes between preschool children and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development[J].Biopsychosoc Med,2021,15(2):1-7.
[23] Kou J,Le J,Fu M,et al.Comparison of three different eye-tracking tasks for distinguishing autistic from typically developing children and autistic symptom severity[J].Autism Res,2019,12(10):1529-1540.
[24] Gong X,Li X,Wang Q,et al. Comparing visual preferences between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and normal children to explore the characteristics of visual preference of ASD children by improved visual preference paradigm:A case-control study[J].Transl Pediatr,2021,10(8):2006-2015.
[25] Chawarska K,Macari S,Shic F.Decreased spontaneous attention to social scenes in 6-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders[J].Biol Psychiatry,2013,74(3):195-203.
[26] Murias M,Major S,Davlantis K,et al.Validation of eye-tracking measures of social attention as a potential biomarker for autism clinical trials[J].Autism Res,2018,11(1):166-174.
[27] Tenenbaum EJ,Major S,Carpenter KLH,et al.Distance from typical scan path when viewing complex stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorder and its association with behavior[J].J Autism Dev Disord,2021,51(10):3492-3505.
[28] Wan G,Kong X,Sun B,et al.Applying eye tracking to identify autism spectrum disorder in children[J].J Autism Dev Disord,2019,49(1):209-215.
[29] Liu Q,Wang Q,Li X,et al.Social synchronization during joint attention in children with autism spectrum disorder[J].Autism Res,2021,14(10):2120-2130.
[30] 张雅如,邵智,阳光,等.不同线索条件下孤独症谱系障碍儿童注视追随眼动特征研究[J].中华行为医学与脑科学杂志,2023,32(11):993-998.
Zhang YR,Shao Z,Yang G,et al.Study on the characteristics of gaze following eye movements in children with autism spectrum disorders under different cues[J].Chin J Behav Med Brain Sci,2023,32(11):993-998.(in Chinese)
[31] 张雅如,彭帅,邵智.不同类型线索引导下孤独症谱系障碍儿童应答式共同注意特征眼动研究[J].中国神经精神疾病杂志,2022,48(5):269-274.
Zhang YR,Peng S,Shao Z,et al.A study on the characteristics of responsive joint attention under the guidance of different types of cues in children with autism spectrum disorders[J].Chin J Child Health Care,2022,48(5):269-274.(in Chinese)
[32] de Belen RA,Pincham H,Hodge A,et al.Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder[J].BMC Psychiatry,2023,23(211):1-17.
[33] Shic F,Naples AJ,Barney EC,et al. The autism biomarkers consortium for clinical trials: Evaluation of a battery of candidate eye-tracking biomarkers for use in autism clinical trials[J]. Mol Autism,2022,13(1):1-15.
[34] Camero R,Martínez V,Gallego C.Gaze following and pupil dilation as early diagnostic markers of autism in toddlers[J].Children,2021,8(2):113.
[35] Andreou G,Raxioni K.Language development,reading and word learning in autism spectrum disorder (ASD):A review on eye tracking studies[J].Int J Dev Disabil,2024,70(1):2-19.
[36] Wang Q,Hu Y,Shi D,et al.Children with autism spectrum disorder prefer looking at repetitive movements in a preferential looking paradigm[J].J Autism Dev Disord,2018,48(8):2821-2831.
[37] Wang Q,Wall CA,Barney EC,et al.Promoting social attention in 3-year-olds with ASD through gaze-contingent eye tracking[J].Autism Res,2020,13(1):61-73.
[38] Gepner B,Godde A,Charrier A,et al.Reducing facial dynamics′ speed during speech enhances attention to mouth in children with autism spectrum disorder: An eye-tracking study[J].Dev Psychopathol,2021,33(3):1006-1015.