Avatars and Digital Technology Literacy Applied in Psychology

2019 ◽  
pp. 402-420
Author(s):  
Judy Joohye Lee ◽  
Laura Dryjanska
Keyword(s):  
Media Literacy ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Technology Literacy ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
Virtual Technology ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Clinical Methods

Technological advances have led to a variety of positive outcomes and benefits. This chapter aims to discuss the different kinds of therapeutic interventions, clinical methods, and approaches in the field of psychology that have resulted from the advance in digital and virtual technology. In particular, this chapter focuses on avatars and virtual technology as a component of media literacy. Additionally, the chapter explores, in detail, how avatars are used across various clinical settings with diverse populations such as individuals with autism spectrum disorder, individuals with schizophrenia, prison settings, and the criminal justice system. Furthermore, the chapter highlights the significant implications avatars have in regards to education. Lastly, controversies and challenges are discussed regarding the efficacy of digital technology within clinical settings (e.g., telepsychology).

The Oxford Handbook of Digital Technologies and Mental Health

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

This book provides an academically oriented and scientifically based description of how technological advances may have contributed to a wide range of mental health outcomes, covering the spectrum from problems and maladies to improved and expanded healthcare services. Digital technologies covered include internet use (including social networking, shopping, gambling, viewing of pornography, etc.), digital gaming, smartphones, mobile applications, virtual reality, and computer-based therapeutic interventions. Both the positive and negative aspects of these various types of digital technologies are discussed. Further, some chapters include a discussion of future developments in the field. The book has been written by international experts in the applications of digital technology across many countries and quality universities. This book consists of eight sections. The first focuses on digital technology in the general population. The second covers problematic conceptual issues in the impact of technology use. The third discusses potential positive impacts of digital technology. The fourth covers potential negative impacts of digital technologies. The fifth evaluates utilizing digital technologies for assessment and legal considerations. The sixth explores using digital technologies to improve overall well-being. The seventh discusses the use of digital technologies to treat specific disorders, and the eighth presents a discussion on treatments of problematic technology use. The book concludes with a brief summary as well as a discussion of future directions for digital technologies.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN EDUCATION: ACTIVE LEARNERS

2019 ◽  
pp. 14-21
Author(s):  
Sevinç GÜLSEÇEN
Keyword(s):  
Computer Games ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Electronic Music ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Technology Literacy ◽  
Digital Television ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Student Centered Learning

It is argued that the digital technology has made possible the vast range of applications and media forms including virtual reality, digital special effects, digital film, digital television, electronic music, computer games, multimedia, the Internet, the World Wide Web, digital telephony and so on [8]. Digital transformation has been particularly influential in new directions of society.Providing schools with digital technology promises a high return on investment. The presence of computers and Internet access raises technology literacy and skills, better preparing the future generations to participate in the information society [12]. To this end, schools represent ideal access points because they cover a large part of the population, especially in developing countries. Starting from 1990s, many educators have been realised the potential of Internet for educational purposes and began to introduce it into classrooms. According to [10] the popularity of web-based teaching and learning lies in the strengths of its distributed nature and the case of its browsing facility. Both the use of digital technology and increased interest in student-centered learning may lead to a significant change of the teacher’s role, as well as the recognition of the active role of the learner in the learning process.

scholarly journals The microbial metabolite p-Cresol induces autistic-like behaviors in mice by remodeling the gut microbiota

Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Bermudez-Martin ◽  
Jérôme A. J. Becker ◽  
Nicolas Caramello ◽  
Sebastian P. Fernandez ◽  
Renan Costa-Campos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Microbial Metabolite ◽  
Central Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Induced Changes

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, changes in microbiota composition as well as in the fecal, serum, and urine levels of microbial metabolites. Yet a causal relationship between dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and ASD remains to be demonstrated. Here, we hypothesized that the microbial metabolite p-Cresol, which is more abundant in ASD patients compared to neurotypical individuals, could induce ASD-like behavior in mice. Results Mice exposed to p-Cresol for 4 weeks in drinking water presented social behavior deficits, stereotypies, and perseverative behaviors, but no changes in anxiety, locomotion, or cognition. Abnormal social behavior induced by p-Cresol was associated with decreased activity of central dopamine neurons involved in the social reward circuit. Further, p-Cresol induced changes in microbiota composition and social behavior deficits could be transferred from p-Cresol-treated mice to control mice by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We also showed that mice transplanted with the microbiota of p-Cresol-treated mice exhibited increased fecal p-Cresol excretion, compared to mice transplanted with the microbiota of control mice. In addition, we identified possible p-Cresol bacterial producers. Lastly, the microbiota of control mice rescued social interactions, dopamine neurons excitability, and fecal p-Cresol levels when transplanted to p-Cresol-treated mice. Conclusions The microbial metabolite p-Cresol induces selectively ASD core behavioral symptoms in mice. Social behavior deficits induced by p-Cresol are dependant on changes in microbiota composition. Our study paves the way for therapeutic interventions targeting the microbiota and p-Cresol production to treat patients with ASD.

scholarly journals Chromatin Remodeler CHD8 in Autism and Brain Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Anke Hoffmann ◽  
Dietmar Spengler
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Mental Disease ◽  
Transgenic Animal ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Homeostatic Plasticity ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Facial Dysmorphism ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Level Function

Chromodomain Helicase DNA-binding 8 (CHD8) is a high confidence risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and the genetic cause of a distinct neurodevelopmental syndrome with the core symptoms of autism, macrocephaly, and facial dysmorphism. The role of CHD8 is well-characterized at the structural, biochemical, and transcriptional level. By contrast, much less is understood regarding how mutations in CHD8 underpin altered brain function and mental disease. Studies on various model organisms have been proven critical to tackle this challenge. Here, we scrutinize recent advances in this field with a focus on phenotypes in transgenic animal models and highlight key findings on neurodevelopment, neuronal connectivity, neurotransmission, synaptic and homeostatic plasticity, and habituation. Against this backdrop, we further discuss how to improve future animal studies, both in terms of technical issues and with respect to the sex-specific effects of Chd8 mutations for neuronal and higher-systems level function. We also consider outstanding questions in the field including ‘humanized’ mice models, therapeutic interventions, and how the use of pluripotent stem cell-derived cerebral organoids might help to address differences in neurodevelopment trajectories between model organisms and humans.

scholarly journals Interactive Multi-Sensory Environments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vytautas Zalys
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Hand Coordination ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Audio Video ◽  
The Impact

The emerging of digital technology not only encourages the development of new tools but also changes traditional approaches to solving emerging problems. The sound, music, art, colors, etc. that prevailed in the 20th-century forms of therapy are being replaced by integrated systems that overcome many of these forms, thanks to digital technology. With the increasing number of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the world, such systems provide new opportunities for the treatment of these disorders. In this research, the creation of such a system has been chosen as the object of work. The article presents an interactive tool for the education of children with ASD created by audio, video, and computer technologies and assesses its potential impact. The experimental research and its results are presented. This study aims to evaluate an interactive instrument developed for the education of such children. Following the objectives of ensuring the interactivity of the process, provoking all the perceptions of the subject, and developing the subject's ability to respond to the environment, a personalized audiovisual environment was created. For interactivity, the virtual program EyeCon, Webcam and camcorders, video projector, and speaker system were used. The study was conducted with one subject and a case study method was used. The impact of the instrument was established based on a survey of the parents of the child and the findings of childcare experts. The results of the study demonstrated the positive benefits for this child such as increased eye-to-hand coordination, concentration duration, improved communication, and emotional expression. The results obtained show that such interactive multi-sensory environments in special and general education schools can be a supplemental tool for traditional methods.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Targeting of the Gas6/Axl Signaling Pathway in Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9953
Author(s):  
Mai Tanaka ◽  
Dietmar W. Siemann
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Receptor Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Therapeutic Resistance ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Affinity Ligand ◽  
Current State ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
High Affinity Ligand

Many signaling pathways are dysregulated in cancer cells and the host tumor microenvironment. Aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways promote cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Hence, numerous therapeutic interventions targeting RTKs have been actively pursued. Axl is an RTK that belongs to the Tyro3, Axl, MerTK (TAM) subfamily. Axl binds to a high affinity ligand growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) that belongs to the vitamin K-dependent family of proteins. The Gas6/Axl signaling pathway has been implicated to promote progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance in many cancer types. Therapeutic agents targeting Gas6 and Axl have been developed, and promising results have been observed in both preclinical and clinical settings when such agents are used alone or in combination therapy. This review examines the current state of therapeutics targeting the Gas6/Axl pathway in cancer and discusses Gas6- and Axl-targeting agents that have been evaluated preclinically and clinically.

scholarly journals Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness, Psychosocial Dysfunction and Suffering in ESSENCE

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Garcia ◽  
Henrik Anckarsäter ◽  
Sebastian Lundström
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Psychosocial Dysfunction ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Character Inventory ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
The Impact

Background. The acronym ESSENCE (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations) highlights that children seeking clinical treatment are often multiply impaired, thus requiring treatment from several specialties. The aim was to map and relate, on a population level, ESSENCE to two salient predictors of health and adaptation to adversities, namely, Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness and also to dysfunction and suffering.Methods. Participants were twins(N=1892)aged 9 or 12 whose parents were interviewed with the Autism-Tics, ADHD and other Comorbidities inventory (A-TAC), and the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (J-TCI). The A-TAC was first used to discern four ESSENCE-related screening diagnoses: autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, and developmental coordination disorder; second, to quantify dysfunction and suffering in important social areas.Results. ESSENCE symptoms were continuously and categorically associated with deficiency in Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness and higher ratings of dysfunction and suffering. The impact of ESSENCE symptoms on these measures of mental health was found in a milder form in about 16% of all children and in a severe form in about 2%.Conclusion. Therapeutic interventions focusing on Self-Directedness and Cooperativeness might provide a novel method for child psychiatry in its approach to ESSENCE.

Automatic Detection and Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 396-425
Author(s):  
Thanga Aarthy M. ◽  
Menaka R. ◽  
Karthik R.
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Pathological Condition ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ◽  
Clinical Methods

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are increasing gradually every year. One in 100 children are diagnosed with brain function disorder. There are wide categories of disorder such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, learning, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), etc. In this work, the focus is on ASD, its clinical methods, and analysis in various research works. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects the intellectual functioning, social interaction (adaptive behavior), and has a specific obsessive interest. At present, there is no known cure for ASD, but the level of the pathological condition can be reduced when it is detected early. Early detection is tough and challenging till date. Many researches were carried out to ease the early detection for clinicians. Each method has its own merits and demerits. This chapter reviews and condenses various research works and their efficacy in analysis for the early diagnosis and improvement in children with autism.

scholarly journals Development of a new Robot and Design of a 4Axes Intervention Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. e218101623763
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Sarri ◽  
Eleni Gkiolnta ◽  
Maria Zygopoulou ◽  
Areti- Eirini Filiou ◽  
Christine K. Syriopoulou-Delli
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Living Skills

This is an observational study using descriptive methods and following the guidelines of cross-sectional studies. Taking into account that the children’s needs and abilities are continuously changing, the authors proposed robot-based interventions to enhance independent living skills. Social robots as intervention and therapy agents for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have been around for quite some time and recent technological advances have brought many changes in their potential and therefore, their popularity. In this article the authors present a panda-robot designed for children with ASD describing its physical appearance, giving information about its features and the ways it can be implemented in an intervention program that is structured in four axes. These four axes include activities that aim towards the development of social, communication, and motor skills and also focus on the implementation of relief and relaxation techniques for children with ASD. Essential guidelines and instructions, as well as certain points of attention, are also discussed.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Virtual/Augmented Reality–Based Therapeutic Interventions on Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnam Karami ◽  
Roxana Koushki ◽  
Fariba Arabgol ◽  
Maryam Rahmani ◽  
Abdol-Hossein Vahabie
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Vr Training ◽  
Living Skills ◽  
And Training

In recent years, the application of virtual reality (VR) for therapeutic purposes has escalated dramatically. Favorable properties of VR for engaging patients with autism, in particular, have motivated an enormous body of investigations targeting autism-related disabilities with this technology. This study aims to provide a comprehensive meta-analysis for evaluating the effectiveness of VR on the rehabilitation and training of individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Accordingly, we conducted a systematic search of related databases and, after screening for inclusion criteria, reviewed 33 studies for more detailed analysis. Results revealed that individuals undergoing VR training have remarkable improvements with a relatively large effect size with Hedges g of 0.74. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of different skills indicated diverse effectiveness. The strongest effect was observed for daily living skills (g = 1.15). This effect was moderate for other skills: g = 0.45 for cognitive skills, g = 0.46 for emotion regulation and recognition skills, and g = 0.69 for social and communication skills. Moreover, five studies that had used augmented reality also showed promising efficacy (g = 0.92) that calls for more research on this tool. In conclusion, the application of VR-based settings in clinical practice is highly encouraged, although their standardization and customization need more research.

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