Boston University researchers develop video game to study autism perception

Researchers at Boston University have developed an inclusive video game designed to study how autistic individuals perceive and interpret sensory information. Unlike traditional research methods that often exclude individuals with severe symptoms or communication challenges, this interactive tool allows participants across the entire spectrum, including nonverbal individuals, to communicate their perceptions through gameplay.

Benjamin Scott, an assistant professor at Boston University, noted that the game helps identify phenomena such as ‘noisy evidence integration,’ which relates to how the brain processes sensory floods. This methodology aims to provide more direct data than subjective assessments from family members, potentially aiding in the development of new therapies and drugs.

In related neurological studies, research published in Molecular Autism explored the ‘double empathy problem,’ suggesting that communication difficulties are reciprocal. The study found that while autistic and non-autistic individuals may struggle to read each other, autistic individuals showed increased accuracy when reading the emotional valence of other autistic people. Additionally, some research suggests heightened emotional bonds between autistic individuals and animals may stem from shared sensory sensitivities and the predictability of animal behavior.