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Category: Project

Description: The paper aims to highlight non-invasive BCI-VR applied protocols as intervention paradigms on subjects with ASD. Computer-based interventions are considered appropriate for users with ASD as the concentration in front of a screen reduces other stimuli from the environment that are likely to be distractive or disruptive. Since there are no social conditions for engagement in such processes and the responses of computing systems do not hold surprises for users, as the outputs are fully controlled, they are ideal for ASD subjects. Especially children with ASD, when supported by BCI interventions through virtual reality applications, appear to show significant improvements in core symptoms, such as cognitive and social deficits, regardless of their age or IQ. We examined nine protocols applied from 2016 to 2023, focusing on the BCI paradigms, the procedure and the out-comes. Our study is non-exhaustive but representative of the state of the art in the field. As concluded by the research, BCI-VR applied protocols have no side effects, are rather easy to handle and maintain, and hold promise as a tool for improving social and cognitive skills in individuals with ASD. Keywords: brain-computer interface (BCI); virtual reality (VR); autism spectrum disorder (ASD); neurofeedback (NFT); EEG signals; social skills; joint attention; memory; emotional regulation