Neurodevelopmental DisordersNCT02118649
Enhancing Behavior and Brain Response to Visual Targets Using a Computer Game
A study testing Game in people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Participants will play a computer game that is controlled by their gaze patterns and designed to direct attention their attention to specific on-screen targets. Visual attention to targets will be rewarded. Both visual behavior and brain response will be recorded during game play. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- What is being tested?
- Game
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2014to 18 Jul 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Able to participate in an eye-tracking experiment
- Able to participate in an EEG experiment
Who cannot join
- Sensory or physical impairment that would preclude completion of protocol
- Participants taking prescription medications that may affect cognitive processes
- Participants reporting significant head trauma or history of seizures
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Yale Child Study Center
New Haven, Connecticut, 06520
About this study
Participants will play a computer game that is controlled by their gaze patterns and designed to direct attention their attention to specific on-screen targets. Visual attention to targets will be rewarded. Both visual behavior and brain response will be recorded during game play.
It is hypothesized that that, over the course of the game, relative to baseline, participants will show (a) increased looking to targets, (b) decreased response time to targets, and (c) enhanced, more efficient neural response to visual cues. It is hypothesized that clinical variability will associate with visual attention and brain response.
- Conditions
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Being tested
- Game
- Medical subject headings
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
GameBehavioural
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Game | Experimental | Participants will play a video game directing their gaze to on-screen targets. Receives: Behavioral: Game |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
EEG brain response to targets
Measured: Measures will be recorded for the duration of their visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Secondary outcomes (6)
Visual attention to targets as measured by eye-tracking
Measured: Measures will be recorded for the duration of their visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition
Measured: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
Measured: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Differential Abilities Scale
Measured: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition
Measured: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Social Anxiety Scale for Children, Revised
Measured: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Apr 2014 (estimated)
- Study start1 Apr 2014
- Primary completion18 Jul 2017
- Study completion18 Jul 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (15)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Neurodevelopmental DisordersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Yale UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Yale University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- James McPartland, Principal investigator, Yale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02118649
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 14-10788
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 5 Apr 2014
- Last updated
- 6 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Hutt C, Ounsted C. The biological significance of gaze aversion with particular reference to the syndrome of infantile autism. Behav Sci. 1966 Sep;11(5):346-56. doi: 10.1002/bs.3830110504. No abstract available.
PubMed 5970485Senju A, Tojo Y, Yaguchi K, Hasegawa T. Deviant gaze processing in children with autism: an ERP study. Neuropsychologia. 2005;43(9):1297-306. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.12.002. Epub 2005 Jan 24.
PubMed 15949514Senju A, Yaguchi K, Tojo Y, Hasegawa T. Eye contact does not facilitate detection in children with autism. Cognition. 2003 Aug;89(1):B43-51. doi: 10.1016/s0010-0277(03)00081-7.
PubMed 12893128Tanaka JW, Wolf JM, Klaiman C, Koenig K, Cockburn J, Herlihy L, Brown C, Stahl S, Kaiser MD, Schultz RT. Using computerized games to teach face recognition skills to children with autism spectrum disorder: the Let's Face It! program. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2010 Aug;51(8):944-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02258.x.
PubMed 20646129Tanaka JW, Wolf JM, Klaiman C, Koenig K, Cockburn J, Herlihy L, Brown C, Stahl SS, South M, McPartland JC, Kaiser MD, Schultz RT. The perception and identification of facial emotions in individuals with autism spectrum disorders using the Let's Face It! Emotion Skills Battery. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Dec;53(12):1259-67. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02571.x. Epub 2012 Jul 11.
PubMed 22780332Charlop-Christy MH, Le L, Freeman KA. A comparison of video modeling with in vivo modeling for teaching children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000 Dec;30(6):537-52. doi: 10.1023/a:1005635326276.
PubMed 11261466Gena A, Couloura S, Kymissis E. Modifying the affective behavior of preschoolers with autism using in-vivo or video modeling and reinforcement contingencies. J Autism Dev Disord. 2005 Oct;35(5):545-56. doi: 10.1007/s10803-005-0014-9.
PubMed 16163569Wilson KP. Teaching social-communication skills to preschoolers with autism: efficacy of video versus in vivo modeling in the classroom. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Aug;43(8):1819-31. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1731-5.
PubMed 23224593Klin A, Jones W, Schultz R, Volkmar F, Cohen D. Defining and quantifying the social phenotype in autism. Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Jun;159(6):895-908. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.6.895.
PubMed 12042174Landa RJ, Holman KC, O'Neill AH, Stuart EA. Intervention targeting development of socially synchronous engagement in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;52(1):13-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02288.x. Epub 2010 Dec 3.
PubMed 21126245Constantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2012). The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - WPS (ADOS-WPS), Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
Elliott C. Differential Ability Scales: Second Edition (DAS-II). San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation. 2007.
Sparrow, S. S., Balla, D., Cicchetti, D. (1984). Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Circle Pines, MN, American Guidance Service.
La Greca AM, Lopez N. Social anxiety among adolescents: linkages with peer relations and friendships. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1998 Apr;26(2):83-94. doi: 10.1023/a:1022684520514.
PubMed 9634131
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Enhancing Behavior and Brain Response to Visual Targets Using a Computer Game
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02118649
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 14-10788
- Conditions
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Yale UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2014 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 18 Jul 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Jul 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Apr 2014 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Participants will play a computer game that is controlled by their gaze patterns and designed to direct attention their attention to specific on-screen targets. Visual attention to targets will be rewarded. Both visual behavior and brain response will be recorded during game play.
It is hypothesized that that, over the course of the game, relative to baseline, participants will show (a) increased looking to targets, (b) decreased response time to targets, and (c) enhanced, more efficient neural response to visual cues. It is hypothesized that clinical variability will associate with visual attention and brain response.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Game | Experimental | Behavioral: GameParticipants will play a video game directing their gaze to on-screen targets. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Able to participate in an eye-tracking experiment
- Able to participate in an EEG experiment
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Sensory or physical impairment that would preclude completion of protocol
- Participants taking prescription medications that may affect cognitive processes
- Participants reporting significant head trauma or history of seizures
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Game | Behavioural | Game |
Primary outcome
EEG brain response to targets
Time frame: Measures will be recorded for the duration of their visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
6 secondary outcomes
Visual attention to targets as measured by eye-tracking
Time frame: Measures will be recorded for the duration of their visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition
Time frame: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
Time frame: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Differential Abilities Scale
Time frame: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition
Time frame: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Social Anxiety Scale for Children, Revised
Time frame: Measures will be collected during visit, an expected average of 3 hours.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Aug 2026.
- Background: PubMed 5970485Hutt C, Ounsted C. The biological significance of gaze aversion with particular reference to the syndrome of infantile autism. Behav Sci. 1966 Sep;11(5):346-56. doi: 10.1002/bs.3830110504. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 15949514Senju A, Tojo Y, Yaguchi K, Hasegawa T. Deviant gaze processing in children with autism: an ERP study. Neuropsychologia. 2005;43(9):1297-306. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.12.002. Epub 2005 Jan 24.
- Background: PubMed 12893128Senju A, Yaguchi K, Tojo Y, Hasegawa T. Eye contact does not facilitate detection in children with autism. Cognition. 2003 Aug;89(1):B43-51. doi: 10.1016/s0010-0277(03)00081-7.
- Background: PubMed 20646129Tanaka JW, Wolf JM, Klaiman C, Koenig K, Cockburn J, Herlihy L, Brown C, Stahl S, Kaiser MD, Schultz RT. Using computerized games to teach face recognition skills to children with autism spectrum disorder: the Let's Face It! program. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2010 Aug;51(8):944-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02258.x.
- Background: PubMed 22780332Tanaka JW, Wolf JM, Klaiman C, Koenig K, Cockburn J, Herlihy L, Brown C, Stahl SS, South M, McPartland JC, Kaiser MD, Schultz RT. The perception and identification of facial emotions in individuals with autism spectrum disorders using the Let's Face It! Emotion Skills Battery. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Dec;53(12):1259-67. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02571.x. Epub 2012 Jul 11.
- Background: PubMed 11261466Charlop-Christy MH, Le L, Freeman KA. A comparison of video modeling with in vivo modeling for teaching children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000 Dec;30(6):537-52. doi: 10.1023/a:1005635326276.
- Background: PubMed 16163569Gena A, Couloura S, Kymissis E. Modifying the affective behavior of preschoolers with autism using in-vivo or video modeling and reinforcement contingencies. J Autism Dev Disord. 2005 Oct;35(5):545-56. doi: 10.1007/s10803-005-0014-9.
- Background: PubMed 23224593Wilson KP. Teaching social-communication skills to preschoolers with autism: efficacy of video versus in vivo modeling in the classroom. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Aug;43(8):1819-31. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1731-5.
- Background: PubMed 12042174Klin A, Jones W, Schultz R, Volkmar F, Cohen D. Defining and quantifying the social phenotype in autism. Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Jun;159(6):895-908. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.159.6.895.
- Background: PubMed 21126245Landa RJ, Holman KC, O'Neill AH, Stuart EA. Intervention targeting development of socially synchronous engagement in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;52(1):13-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02288.x. Epub 2010 Dec 3.
- BackgroundConstantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2012). The Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
- BackgroundLord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - WPS (ADOS-WPS), Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
James McPartland principal investigator
Yale University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Game in people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
EEG brain response to targets (time frame: Measures will be recorded for the duration of their visit, an expected average of 3 hours.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02118649, which also lists 15 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Aug 2026.