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NCT Number: NCT06925308

Course of Face-to-face Interactions in Adults With Autism

This research explores how adults with autism make eye contact during formal and informal interactions; to what extent the nature of a conversation influences how eye contact is made in terms of length, frequency and overall presentation. Also what physiological responses to eye contact are, in order to determine to what extent eye contact leads to an increased, decreased or unchanged stress level. In addition, to gain insight into the similarities and differences in how people with ASD respond to eye contact of others compared to their own eye contact.

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Key information

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Autism Spectrum Disorder Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurotypical

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Dimence Groep

Deventer, Overijssel, 7416 SB, Netherlands

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Bram Sizoo, Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

Jos Boer, MSc

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Nynke Boonstra, Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

+31 6 22678011

About this study

This research explores how adults with autism make eye contact during formal and informal interactions; to what extent the nature of a conversation influences how eye contact is made in terms of length, frequency and overall presentation. Also what physiological responses to eye contact are, in order to determine to what extent eye contact leads to an increased, decreased or unchanged stress level. In addition, to gain insight into the similarities and differences in how people with ASD respond to eye contact of others compared to their own eye contact.

The research design chosen is an exploratory mixed methods study, which was developed in co-design with an expert by experience. The design consists of two parts. In the first part, the researcher will have a conversation (with a formal and informal phase, in which the subject will be given the idea that only the formal part is part of the research) with an adult with ASD, during which hidden recordings of the subject's eye behavior will be made, and in addition, skin conductance and duration/frequency of the subject's eye contact will be recorded, without the subject knowing that this is intended for research into eye contact. In the second part, the researcher and subject watch the hidden recording of the subject's eye behavior, during which the subject's skin conductance will be recorded and special features of the subject, as seen by the researcher. Both the arrangement of the subjects and researcher, as well as the physiological measurements, will be tested in advance.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Neurotypical adults and adults with an ASD, determined according to an internationally recognized classification system.
  • Able to understand the instructions.
  • Motivation to participate in research.

Exclusion criteria

  • No good command of the Dutch language.
  • Use of alcohol and/or recreational drugs during the research.
  • Mentally too unstable to participate in the research.
  • Familiarity with treatment in the VGZ.

Treatment and study plan

Conversation

Behavioral

The design consists of two parts. In the first part, the researcher will have a conversation (with a formal and informal phase, where the subject will be given the idea that only the formal part is part of the study) with an adult with ASD during which covert recordings of the subject's eye behavior will be made, and in addition skin conductance and duration/frequency of eye contact of the subject will be recorded, without the subject knowing that this is intended for the purpose of studying eye contact. In the second part, the researcher and subject will watch the covert recording of the subject's eye behavior, during which the subject's skin conductance will be recorded and details of the subject's behavior as seen by the researcher.

Primary outcomes

  1. Frequency of eye contact in adults with autism, measured with video, audio and push button.

    Time frame: Baseline

    The research consists of two parts. During the first part, the conversation, the frequency of eye contact will be investigated. This will be measured by video recordings of the eye region combined with the pressing of a push button by the researcher at moments when eye contact is present.

    Data will be analyzed using software programs Observer XT and Matlab for the integration of push button, video recordings and audio recordings.

  2. Duration of eye contact in adults with autism, measured with video, audio and push button.

    Time frame: Baseline

    The research consists of two parts. During the first part, the conversation, the duration of eye contact will be investigated. This will be measured by video recordings of the eye region combined with the pressing of a push button by the researcher at moments when eye contact is present. Data will be analyzed using software programs Observer XT and Matlab for the integration of push button, video recordings and audio recordings.

  3. Arousal during eye contact in adults with autism, measured with skin conductance

    Time frame: Baseline

    The research consists of two parts. During the first part, the arousal during eye contact will be investigated. This will be measured by a skin conductance meter and analysed with the software program VSRRP.

  4. Arousal during reflection on ones own eye contact in adults with autism, measured with skin conductance

    Time frame: Baseline

    During the second part, the reflection on video recordings of ones own eye contact in aduls with autism, the degree of arousal to seeing their own eye contact will be investigated. For this, skin conductance meter will be used and analysed with the software program VSRRP.

  5. Reflection on ones own eye contact in adults with autism, measured with video and audio

    Time frame: Baseline

    During the second part, reflection first part, it will be investigated how subjects respond with words. For this, audio and video recordings will be used. Data analysis will be conducted with use of thematic analysis and software programs Atlas.ti, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jos Boer, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

+31 6 20083507

Nynke Boonstra, Professor

CONTACT

[email protected]

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UMC Utrecht

Other

Collaborators

  • Dimence Groep

Registry information

Official study title

Course of Face-to-face Interactions in Adults With Autism: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Experimental Design

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 13, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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