Study of Kinematics in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Coordination Disorder

Abstract

Individuals with autism have key deficits in the ability to gaze at moving objects and prepare and execute a motor response. The practice of visuomotor testing has the potential to provide further information regarding the challenges and limitations these individuals. This study assessed the kinematics of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and individuals with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The purpose of this research was to obtain a better understanding of deviations regarding visual and motor skills in atypical and typical development. Participants were placed in front of a giant screen, which displayed a virtual 3D environment. Reflective body markers were placed on the participant, which allowed for data to be captured through the use of a Motion Analysis System, Cortex software, D-Flow software and eye-tracking glasses. Data collected was computed to provide the average displacement of Center of Mass (COM) and average speed using the C7 and sacral marker on the participants during the body movement task and intercept task. Findings showed that during body movement task, clear differences between the participants in the ASD and DCD group were observed. However, during the intercept task, inconsistent patterns were seen which made it difficult to formulate any conclusions. Due to the evaluation of a very small sample size as well as the absence of data from a healthy control group, no statistical analysis could be made. Although it was difficult to create any assumptions, this project provided the groundwork for additional future testing.