title: Social Behaviors and Active Videogame Play in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display problematic and excessive videogame play. Using active videogames (AVGs) may have physical benefits, but its effects on socialization are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an A-B-A' experiment comparing sedentary videogames and AVGs for three dyads of a child with ASD and his sibling. An augmented reality (AR) game was used to introduce AVGs. Sessions were coded for communication, positive affect, and aggression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One dyad had increases in positive affect with AVGs. Otherwise, social behaviors were unchanged or worse. The AR game demonstrated consistent elevations in social behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of AVGs has inconsistent effects on social behavior for children with ASD. Further research is needed to understand mediators of response to AVGs. AR games should be evaluated for potential benefits on socialization and positive affect.
authors.affiliation: 1 The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine , Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: 2 Children's Hospital Los Angeles , Los Angeles, California.|3 Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Vanderbilt
authors.affiliation: 4 Janet Weis Children's Hospital , Geisinger Health System, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Neelkamal S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003142:Communication; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D066107:Social Skills; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games / Q000523:psychology*