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Document Type

Open Access

Department

Psychology

Description

The portable Interactive Physical and Cognitive Exercise System (iPACES, v 2.8), tablet, smart watch and an under-desk stationary elliptical will be sent to the home of a participant and used in-home for three months in this experiment. We aim to examine the effects of cognitive and physical stimulation, in adolescents on the autism spectrum. This three-week intervention of exergaming will add to the finding of previous studies that used a 20 minute bout of exergaming. Participants will receive the iPACES set-up and necessary testing materials via mail to remain consistent with the social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19. To begin the experiment, participants will be given a series of questionnaires and cognitive tasks, such as Stroop, Color Trails, and Digit Span via a video call on a remote video conference platform (e.g. Zoom) remaining consistent with the tele-health guidelines. Participants will then be asked to use the game and peddler combination 3-5 times weekly for 30-45 minutes. While this proposed study does not attempt to maximize participation in exercise, it aims to support the belief that exergaming produces a positive effect on cognitive functioning and the reduction of autism-related behaviors of repetition and physical self-stimulation. It will also indirectly investigate the possibility of the use of exergaming as a viable treatment for autism and the feasibility of a remote protocol.

Remote administered in-home interactive Physical and Cognitive Exercise Study (iPACES v2.8) for youth on the Autism Spectrum: A feasibility pilot

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