Application of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, in Particular in the Case of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Abstract

This paper is a combination of a review of the papers related to applications of virtual reality and augmented reality in various aspects of psychiatry and neurophysiology, with special attention to using the respective approaches in the case of autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) and of a description of the studies of the authors dealing with the corresponding problem. The major emphasis is put on the elements that contribute to the amelioration of communicative and emotional skills in such children, mainly related to modeled applications, computers, and an output interface (projection). This study, therefore, focuses on the understanding of the elements simplifying the development of these new information and communication technologies. In order to answer our queries, we used exploratory interviews and specific reviews, such as virtual or augmented reality and virtual (preferably geo-localized) environments used to provide children with ASD a database containing varied and multimodal information for various purposes: (i) a display of the 3D environment and its constituent objects, (ii) understanding of the task, (iii) an increase in the salience of certain objects, (iv) issuance of instructions associated with interaction with the environment in order to increase the capacity of an individual to process and use received information to allow a better performance of the activities of daily living (ADL), (v) simulation of everyday activities, repeating them as necessary things, and graduating them in order to be able to control a given situation, and (vi) introducing many innovative techniques that are not well-known in the treatment of ASD.