Background: Motor imitation difficulties are pervasive in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Previous research demonstrated the validity and reliability of an algorithm called Computerized Assessment of Motor Imitation (CAMI) using 3D depth cameras. However, incorporating CAMI into serious games and making it accessible in clinic and home settings requires a more scalable approach that uses “off-the-shelf” 2D cameras. Method: In a brief (one-minute) task, children (23 ASD, 17 typically developing [TD]) imitated a model’s dance movements while simultaneously being recorded using Kinect Xbox motion tracking technology (Kinect 3D) and a single 2D camera. Pose-estimation software (OpenPose 2D) was used on the 2D camera video to fit a skeleton to the imitating child. Motor imitation scores computed from the fully automated OpenPose 2D CAMI method were compared to scores computed from the Kinect 3D CAMI and Human Observation Coding (HOC) methods. Results: Motor imitation scores obtained from the OpenPose 2D CAMI method were significantly correlated with scores obtained from the Kinect 3D CAMI method (r40 = 0.82, p < 0.001) and the HOC method (r40 = 0.80, p < 0.001). Both 2D and 3D CAMI methods showed better discriminative ability than the HOC, with the Kinect 3D CAMI method outperforming the OpenPose 2D CAMI method (area under ROC curve (AUC): AUCHOC = 0.799, AUC2D-CAMI = 0.876, AUC3D-CAMI= 0.94). Finally, all motor imitation scores were significantly associated with the social communication impairment (all p ≤ 0.003). Conclusions: This pilot-study demonstrated that motor imitation can be automatically quantified using a single 2D camera.
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Analysis of gait synchrony and balance in neurodevelopmental disorders using computer vision techniques
Gait tasks are commonly administered during motor assessments of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Gait analyses are often conducted in laboratory settings using costly and cumbersome experiments. In this paper, we propose a computational pipeline using computer vision techniques as an ecological and precise method to quantify gait in children with NDDs with challenging behaviors. We analyzed videos of 15 probands (PB) and 12 typically developing (TD) siblings, engaged in a preferred-pace walking task, using pose estimation software to track points of interest on their bodies over time. Analyzing the extracted information revealed that PB children had significantly less whole-body gait synchrony and poorer balance compared to their TD siblings. Our work offers a cost-effective method while preserving the validity of its results. This remote approach increases access to more diverse and distant cohorts and thus lowers barriers to research participation, further enriching our understanding of motor outcomes in NDDs.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1838725
- PAR ID:
- 10387494
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Health Informatics Journal
- Volume:
- 27
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 1460-4582
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 146045822110556
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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