A deep learning latent variable model to identify children with autism through motor abnormalities

INTRODUCTION: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a by-birth neurodevelopmental disorder difficult to diagnose owing to the lack of clinical objective and quantitative measures. Classical diagnostic processes are time-consuming and require many specialists’ collaborative efforts to be properly accomplished. Most recent research has been conducted on automated ASD detection using advanced technologies. The proposed model automates ASD detection and provides a new quantitative method to assess ASD. METHODS: The theoretical framework of our study assumes that motor abnormalities can be a potential hallmark of ASD, and Machine Learning may represent the method of choice to analyse them. In this study, a variational autoencoder, a particular type of Artificial Neural Network, is used to improve ASD detection by analysing the latent distribution description of motion features detected by a tablet-based psychometric scale. RESULTS: The proposed ASD detection model revealed that the motion features of children with autism consistently differ from those of children with typical development. DISCUSSION: Our results suggested that it could be possible to identify potential motion hallmarks typical for autism and support clinicians in their diagnostic process. Potentially, these measures could be used as additional indicators of disorder or suspected diagnosis.