Enhancing Cognitive Skills in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Game-based Brain-Computer Interface Training

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro developmental disorder that involves a series of behavioral aspects. Individuals with ASD have atypical development in the areas of learning, communication, social interaction, detection and handling of emotions, motor coordination and concentration. They may also have difficulty thinking flexibly and dealing with changes. With the advancement of information and communication technologies, an alternative used to assist in treating these children is the brain-computer interface (BCI). In this context, this article aimed to create a mental game controlled via ICC that would enable the monitoring of brainwave behavior and promote an improvement in the cognitive performance of children with ASD. To this end, a mixed methods experimental study was carried out with a sample of 21 children aged 9 to 11 years. The study was carried out in schools in the city of Fortaleza -Brazil. The children in the Experimental Group (EG) were exposed to a game that involved memorizing images to develop and improve reasoning by creating relationships between the images and the sequence of arranged cards. We investigated the cognitive abilities using the SON-R 6-40 Nonverbal Intelligence Test. Cognitive gains were observed in the participants of the Experimental Group (EG), including greater concentration, improved attention, and enhanced logical reasoning. Additionally, changes in some aspects of personal hygiene were noted in these children.