Interazioni emotive tra pari ed animali: meccanismi di risonanza e correlati neurali in un gruppo di bambini affetti da autismo

Translated title of the contribution: [Autom. eng. transl.] Emotional interactions between peers and animals: resonance mechanisms and neural correlates in a group of children with autism

Maria Elide Vanutelli, Valeria Milone, Michela Balconi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

[Autom. eng. transl.] Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often encounter difficulties related to the social sphere, including anxiety, a sense of rejection and negative interactions with their peers. It is therefore of fundamental importance to develop new strategies to improve social, emotional and communicative skills in these pathologies. A development in this direction consists in the construction of significant human-animal relationships with a positive value: it has been shown that animals can encourage positive social exchange. However, the psychological and neural mechanisms underlying the affective and empathic components of this phenomenon are still little explored. To answer these questions, images of different emotional hues (positive, negative, or neutral) were shown to a pilot group of children with ASD who portrayed interactions with other peers (man-man: UU), or with pets , such as dogs and cats (man-animal: UA) while electroencephalographic activity (EEG, cortical oscillations) and peripheral autonomic activity (Heart Rate, HR; Skin Conductance Level and Response, SCL, SCR; Pulse Volume Amplitude, PVA; was recorded); Blood Volume Pulse, BVP). The results allowed us to observe the presence of an attentive monitoring mechanism when viewing UA contexts, with an increase in low frequency bands (Alpha and Beta). With regard to peripheral data, instead, an increase in autonomic measurements in terms of arousal emerged during the vision of UU interactions. These preliminary data allowed to observe the recruitment of distinct mechanisms during the processing of stimuli that foresee interactions with other peers, or with animals, with important clinical and rehabilitative implications.
Translated title of the contribution[Autom. eng. transl.] Emotional interactions between peers and animals: resonance mechanisms and neural correlates in a group of children with autism
Original languageItalian
Title of host publicationAtti del «XXII Congresso Nazionale AIP della Sezione di Psicologia Sperimentale»
Pages49
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 2016
EventXXII Congresso Nazionale AIP della Sezione di Psicologia Sperimentale - Roma
Duration: 20 Sept 201622 Sept 2016

Conference

ConferenceXXII Congresso Nazionale AIP della Sezione di Psicologia Sperimentale
CityRoma
Period20/9/1622/9/16

Keywords

  • Animali
  • Autismo
  • Interazioni sociali
  • RIsonanza emotiva

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