Brief Report: A Novel Digital Therapeutic that Combines Applied Behavior Analysis with Gaze-Contingent Eye Tracking to Improve Emotion Recognition in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Researchers built a short video game called Lookware. Kids look at faces on screen. The game watches their eyes with a camera.

When the child looks at the right spot, the game gives points and cheers. ABA prompts and praise are baked in.

Children who played the game scored higher on emotion tests than kids who played a non-ABA game.

Parents and kids said the game was fun and easy to use.

Ryan et al. (2010) taught emotion skills with small-group lessons and got huge gains. Sosnowski et al. (2022) show the same goal can be hit faster and cheaper with a screen.

Miller et al. (2022) looked at 24 game studies and found only small benefits. This new game beats that average because it mixes real-time eye feedback with ABA, not just play.

Wan et al. (2023) also blended games with behavioral training in preschool classrooms. Both papers find the combo works; one uses tabletop games, the other a laptop and eye tracker.

You can add a 15-minute gaze-contingent game to your session instead of extra table work. No extra staff, no flashcards. The child’s eyes trigger rewards, so progress is quick and data are automatic. Try it during break time or as a warm-up.