Affiliations: Catholic University of Paris, Paris-France, CUP-EPP, 23 rue de Montparnasse, Paris, France | Laboratory of Computer Science, Integrative Biology and Complex Systems, IBISC FRE CNRS Rue du Pelvoux Evry Cedex-France, University of Evry-Genopole, Paris, France
Note: [] Corresponding author: Irini Giannopulu, Catholic University of Paris, Paris-France, CUP-EPP, 23 rue de Montparnasse, 75006 Paris, France. E-mail: igiannopulu@psycho-prat.fr
Abstract: Troubles in social communication as well as deficits in the cognitive treatment of emotions are supposed to be a fundamental part of autism. We present a case study based on multimodal interaction between a mobile robot and a child with autism in spontaneous, free game play. This case study tells us that the robot mediates the interaction between the autistic child and therapist once the robot-child interaction has been established. In addition, the child uses the robot as a mediator to express positive emotion playing with the therapist. It is thought that the three-pronged interaction i.e., child-robot-therapist could better facilitate the transfer of social and emotional abilities to real life settings. Robot therapy has a high potential to improve the condition of brain activity in autistic children.
Keywords: Robot, autism, interaction, rehabilitation, social and emotion behaviour
