Cognitive Interaction Design: A Model-Based Understanding of Communication and its Application to Artifact Design

金沢大学子どものこころの発達研究センター平成２９年に引き続き、社交不安障害（Social Anxiety Disorder: SAD)患者の暴露療法にとって最適なアンドロイドの設定に取り組んだ。SAD患者が会話をしてからアンドロイドが返答するまでの時間、うなずきの頻度、瞬きの頻度、視線の方向などが重要なことが分かった。その後社交不安症状を有する患者の中でロボットに興味が強いものを対象とした。アンドロイドと面接練習をすることによる、面接への自信および面接を受けたことによるストレスを評価する試験を行った。「心理面接に加えアンドロイドによる暴露療法を行う群（介入群）」と「心理面接のみを行う群（コントロール群）」の2群に分け、それぞれ計5回の介入を行った。また介入の前後で “見知らぬヒト”との面接場面を設定し、アンドロイドを用いた暴露療法の効果を測定した。評価指標として1) 面接への自信に関する自己記入質問紙、2)唾液コルチゾール測定を用いた。コントロール群では2名の脱落を認めたが、介入群では参加者全員が最後まで脱落することはなかった。介入群では介入前後における自己記入質問紙上で自信の改善を認めた。また介入前後で“見知らぬヒト”との面接後における唾液コルチゾール値の減少を認めた。アンドロイドを用いた面接を行うことで対人面接における緊張が軽減される可能性が示唆された。本研究の結果からアンドロイドを用いた暴露療法が有効である可能性が示唆された。また練習後半年後の調査においてもアンドロイドと面接練習した群では面接への自信が維持されていることが明らかになった。研究課題/領域番号:17H05857, 研究期間(年度):2017-04-01 – 2019-03-3

Constructive Developmental Science; Revealing the Principles of Development from Fetal Period and Systematic Understanding of Developmental Disorders

金沢大学子どものこころの発達研究センター小型のメカニカル型ロボットであるCommUはシンプルでわかりやすい構造ながら、眼球部、頭部、胴体部に豊富な自由度を持ち、人間に似た微妙なふるまいを表現できる。また視線方向を多彩に提示することが可能であり瞬きも可能である。機械音も少なく、動きも滑らかである。自閉スペクトラム症(Autism Spectrum Disorder: 以下ASD)者にCommUを用いた会話練習の中で共同注視を促すことこそが対人コミュニケーションの基本的態度行動を学習する上で有用なのではと の仮説を立て、実験を行った。予備実験から多くの児がCommUを擬人化し、時には恐怖に感じることが分かったので本番実験では事前にCommUのビデオを見せ、親にも同席して介入が効果的になるように工夫した。5歳及び6歳のASDと診断されている者及びコントロール群を対象とした。ASD群及びコントロール群をさらにグループ1（①ヒト→②CommU→①ヒト）、グループ2（①ヒト→②ヒト(①とは異なるヒト)→①ヒト）による介入を行う二群に分け、それぞれの対象に対してあらかじめプログラムされたスクリプトに基づいて会話を行った。CommUは遠隔操作によってヒトが操作した。ヒト及びCommUは決められたスクリプトに沿って会話を行い、会話の自然な流れの中で共同注視をする設定とした。ASD群においてグループ2(ヒト→ヒト→ヒト)条件では3回の施行で共同注視の変化は認めなかった一方で、グループ1(ヒト→CommU→ヒト）条件ではヒトセッションからCommUセッション、及び2回目のヒトセッションにかけて共同注意は有意傾向で変化を認めた。またコントロール群においてはグループ１、グループ2とも共同注視の変化は認めなかった。コミューを用いた介入がASD児に対して有効な可能性が示された。研究課題/領域番号:15H01577, 研究期間(年度):2015-04-01 – 2017-03-3

Clinical and Biological Overlap between Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders: The Three-Tree Model of SCZ-ASD-TSRD

There is significant overlap in the clinical and neurobiological profiles of schizophrenia (SCZ), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and trauma- and stress-related disorders (TSRDs); moreover, they often co-occur as comorbid disorders. Although current international classification criteria and those in the psychiatry/psychology field recognize such comorbidities, the assessment and treatment of these patients are provided as independent disorders. In this chapter, we summarize the current understanding of the attributes shared by the three disorders and discuss the possible contributors to the development of SCZ, ASD, and TSRD, which include environmental, genetic, and biological factors. We also propose a three-tree model that represents the clinical and biological relationships among the three diseases as a new perspective for assessing and treating these disorders. A comprehensive understanding of these disorders will enable improvements in medical care for patients with these illnesses

Intervention with a humanoid robot avatar for individuals with social anxiety disorders comorbid with autism spectrum disorders

For some individuals with social anxiety disorders (SAD) comorbid with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is difficult to speak in front of others. Herein, we report the case of a patient with SAD comorbid with ASD who could not speak in front of others until she used a humanoid robot as her avatar. During the intervention, her personality changed from shy to outgoing, which is explained by the Proteus effect. These case findings suggest that interventions with a robot avatar might improve the motivation for individuals with SAD comorbid with ASD who cannot speak in front of others to communicate

Differences in the Optimal Motion of Android Robots for the Ease of Communications Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Android robots are employed in various fields. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have the motivation and aptitude for using such robots. Interactions with these robots are structured to resemble social situations in which certain social behaviors can occur and to simulate daily life. Considering that individuals with ASD have strong likes and dislikes, ensuring not only the optimal appearance but also the optimal motion of robots is important to achieve smooth interaction and to draw out the potential of robotic interventions. We investigated whether individuals with ASD found it easier to talk to an android robot with little motion (i.e., only opening and closing its mouth during speech) or an android robot with much motion (i.e., in addition to opening and closing its mouth during speech, moving its eyes from side to side and up and down, blinking, deeply breathing, and turning or moving its head or body at random). This was a crossover study in which a total of 25 participants with ASD experienced mock interviews conducted by an android robot with much spontaneous facial and bodily motion and an android robot with little motion. We compared demographic data between participants who answered that the android robot with much motion was easier to talk to than android robot with little motion and those who answered the opposite. In addition, we investigated how each type of demographic data was related to participants\u27 feeling of comfort in an interview setting with an android robot. Fourteen participants indicated that the android robot with little motion was easier to talk to than the robot with much motion, whereas 11 participants answered the opposite. There were significant differences between these two groups in the sensory sensitivity score, which reflects the tendency to show a low neurological threshold. In addition, we found correlations between the sensation seeking score, which reflects the tendency to show a high neurological threshold, and self-report ratings of comfort in each condition. These results provide preliminary support for the importance of setting the motion of an android robot considering the sensory traits of ASD

Role-Play-Based Guidance for Job Interviews Using an Android Robot for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Interventions for job interviews targeting the impaired theory of mind observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are limited. We developed a role-play-based guidance system for job interviews using an android robot resembling a real person. Individuals with ASD worked in pairs and played dual roles in mock job interviews. Specifically, one participant acted as the interviewee, while the other participant operated the android robot and acted as the interviewer. Eight individuals with high-functioning ASD participated in this study. After the training sessions, participants learned to understand the point of view of the interviewer, which may contribute to increased recognition of the importance of gestures and the motivation to learn how to behave in a job interview. In addition, participants reported improved self-confidence. These results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of playing dual roles using android robots

Developmental Trajectory of Infant Brain Signal Variability: A Longitudinal Pilot Study

The infant brain shows rapid neural network development that considerably influences cognitive and behavioral abilities in later life. Reportedly, this neural development process can be indexed by estimating neural signal complexity. However, the precise developmental trajectory of brain signal complexity during infancy remains elusive. This study was conducted to ascertain the trajectory of magnetoencephalography (MEG) signal complexity from 2 months to 3 years of age in five infants using multiscale entropy (MSE), which captures signal complexity at multiple temporal scales. Analyses revealed scale-dependent developmental trajectories. Specifically, signal complexity predominantly increased from 5 to 15 months of age at higher temporal scales, whereas the complexity at lower temporal scales was constant across age, except in one infant who showed decreased complexity. Despite a small sample size limiting this study’s power, this is the first report of a longitudinal investigation of changes in brain signal complexity during early infancy and is unique in its application of MSE analysis of longitudinal MEG data during infancy. The results of this pilot study may serve to further our understanding of the longitudinal changes in the neural dynamics of the developing infant brain

Subjective achievement from psychiatry rotation in the Japanese postgraduate residency system: a longitudinal questionnaire study

Background: Psychiatry rotation has been mandatory in the Japanese postgraduate residency system since 2020. Some psychiatry-related competency items are stipulated as mandatory for residents. The current study aimed to clarify whether psychiatry rotation affected residents’ subjective achievement of these competency items.Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted among postgraduate residents who completed a rotation in the psychiatry department at Nagasaki University Hospital across two academic years (2020–2021). The survey was administered at the start and at the end of the psychiatry rotation. Residents evaluated their subjective understanding and confidence regarding initiating treatment for these competency items using a six-point Likert scale. The average scores for each item were compared between pre-rotation and post-rotation.Results: In total, 99 residents (91.7%) responded to this survey. Residents had significantly higher scores at postrotation compared with pre-rotation in all psychiatry-related competency items in both subjective understanding and confidence in initiating treatment. Additionally, strong effect sizes were found for many items.Conclusion: Residents improved learning about psychiatry-related competency items through psychiatry rotation. This finding suggests that it is reasonable for psychiatry rotation to be mandatory in the current Japanese postgraduate residency system. The importance of psychiatry is likely to increase in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in the future. It is necessary to continuously update educational strategies to meet changing social needs over time. As this study was conducted at a single institution, a multi-center study is needed to expand the current findings

Comparison of the clinical features of suicide attempters by jumping from a height and those by self-stabbing in Japan.

[Background]A history of psychiatric disorders is a high risk for suicide. The present study compared the clinical features of psychiatric patients in Japan who attempted suicide by jumping from a height and those who attempted suicide by self-stabbing. [Methods]We compared two groups of suicide attempters who were hospitalized for both physical and psychiatric treatment (n=202). We compared the psychiatric diagnoses and clinical features between those who attempted suicide by jumping from a height (N=147) and those who did so by self-stabbing (N=55). [Results]The self-stabbing group (mean age 52.3 years) was significantly older compared to the jumping group (mean age 37.9 years). A significantly higher proportion of females were found in the jumping group. Jumping from a height was significantly associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, whereas self-stabbing was significantly associated with mood disorders. [Limitations]The results were drawn from data from a single hospital in a large urban city, and the study population did not include subjects who completed their suicide attempts. [Conclusions]Our findings show that differences in suicide methods (here, between jumping from a height and self-stabbing) may be related to suicide attempters' psychiatric diagnosis, gender and age. It is thus important to obtain a more detailed background information about a patient's suicide attempt and to create suicide prevention plans in accord with individuals' psychiatric diagnosis, age and gender, especially among those who have attempted suicide by jumping from a height or self-stabbing

自閉スペクトラム症者へのアンドロイドを用いた面接訓練法の確立

国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター / 金沢大学子どものこころの発達研究センター対面時に心地よく自然にインタラクションでき、多くのASD者にとって有効なアンドロイドを用いた就職面接訓練法を開発した。「自閉スペクトラム症(ASD)者がアンドロイドを用いた面接訓練法に加えてSSTを併用する群」ではSSTのみを受けた群と比較して面接時のストレスの改善、自尊心の改善、ノンバーバルコミュニケーションの改善が示唆された。またASD者にとって本システムは最後までモチベーションを持続して取り組むことができることが明らかになった。多くのASD者にとって違和感が少なくコミュニケーションできるアンドロイドを実現できた。We have developed job interview training using an android robot which is effective and allows for comfortable and natural interaction during face-to-face interaction for many people with ASD. In the group of ASD patients who received SST and job interview training using android robot,it was suggested that stress during the interview, self-esteem, and non-verbal communication were improved, compared to SST group. In addition, it was found that the ASD participants were able to maintain their motivation until the end of the program. We could develop an android robot that allows many individuals with ASD to communicate with less discomfort.研究課題/領域番号:18H02746, 研究期間(年度):2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31出典：「自閉スペクトラム症者へのアンドロイドを用いた面接訓練法の確立」研究成果報告書　課題番号18H02746（KAKEN：科学研究費助成事業データベース（国立情報学研究所）） （https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/ja/report/KAKENHI-PROJECT-18H02746/18H02746seika/）を加工して作