Novel Measure of Social Deficits in Children (OATS)

Oregon Animation Test for Social Reciprocity (OATS)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) feature impairments in social interaction and communication. Drug and behavioral treatments for ASD are undergoing rapid development, yet our diagnostic tools are not suitable for efficacy assessment. The Autism-Diagnosis Observational Schedule (ADOS) is a clinical interview with the child and the gold standard for diagnosis. However, this test is subjective, course grained and costly, precluding repeated tests of the same child to assess treatment efficacy and large-scale control assessments of typically developing (TD) children. For these reasons, the ADOS can impede imaging and genetic research.

In light of these concerns, the Oregon Animation Test for Social Reciprocity (OATS) will be developed to evaluate distinct autistic behavioral phenotypes, including joint attention, empathy, imitation, and lack of narrative coherence. The main idea of OATS is that animated characters and social scenarios are presented on a computer screen while the responses of the child are recorded by video camera, microphone, and eye-tracking equipment. Animations are used to test each behavioral phenotype of autism. The long-term vision for OATS is to evaluate behavioral and physiological responses of autistic children, including heart rate variability, pupil dilation, and EEG. Our first objective is to use existing animations to build an OATS "Prototype" that discriminates autistic from normal children (Aim 1). From these results, and use of a defined library of still frame posed images, we will design our own animation platform to assess differences between autistic and normal children (Aim 2).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: ADHD; Autism Spectrum Disorders

Detailed Description

Please see the brief summary above.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 92

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oregon
    • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
      • Oregon Health and Science University
    • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
      • OHSU

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 years to 11 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Children 6-11 years of age with autism, ADHD, or typical, with and IQ exceeding 70.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 6-11 years of age with autism,
• ADHD, or typical

Exclusion Criteria:

• IQ below 70.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Autistic children ages 6-11
ADHD children ages 6-11
Typical children ages 6-11

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Eye gaze in response to animated social situations	60 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Facial expressions in response to animated social situations	A child is shown an animation and facial expressions are coded for various emotions.	60 minutes

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ability to recount a story shown via animation	A child is shown an animation and is asked to recount the story.	10 minutes
Ability to imitate an action shown via animation	A child is shown an animation and is asked to imitate a character's action .	10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Garet P Lahvis, PhD, Oregon Health and Science University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 6, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): January 14, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 28, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ADHD; autism; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; behavior; behavioral assessment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: eIRB 9747