Quantifying Repetitive Hand Flapping Kinematics in Autistic and Non‐Autistic Toddlers Using Video‐Based Pose Estimation.
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| Title: | Quantifying Repetitive Hand Flapping Kinematics in Autistic and Non‐Autistic Toddlers Using Video‐Based Pose Estimation. |
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| Authors: | Stenum, Jan (AUTHOR), Eiler, Elizabeth (AUTHOR), Roemmich, Ryan T. (AUTHOR), Landa, Rebecca (AUTHOR), Reetzke, Rachel (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Developmental Science. May2026, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p1-10. 10p. |
| Subjects: | Kinematics, Pose estimation (Computer vision), Gesture, Autism, Toddlers, Tic disorders, Infant development, Computer vision |
| Abstract: | While repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping are associated with autism, non‐autistic toddlers also exhibit this behavior (e.g., when excited), making clinically meaningful differences difficult to discern prior to age 2. Computer vision, a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI), has the potential to capture subtle movement differences that may otherwise be overlooked. We examined whether movement amplitude and frequency of repetitive hand flapping differed between autistic and non‐autistic toddlers. Based on prior literature, we hypothesized that autistic toddlers would exhibit more intense or vigorous flapping, as reflected by increased amplitude and frequency of repetitive hand flapping. We analyzed 81 manually annotated video segments from 28 toddlers (autism spectrum disorder (ASD): n = 14; no ASD: n = 14), ages 13–16 months (M = 14.78, SD = 0.85), participating in a 3‐min bubble play activity (1–10 events per child). Using AlphaPose, we automatically identified arm key points and quantified amplitude and frequency. Event‐level analyses revealed that, compared to non‐autistic toddlers, autistic toddlers showed significantly greater amplitude (p = 0.028) but did not significantly differ in the frequency of repetitive hand flapping (p = 0.464). In contrast, event‐averaged results showed no group differences in amplitude (p = 0.997) or frequency (p = 0.383). These findings highlight the variability of repetitive hand flapping and suggest that averaging may mask potentially important nuances of repetitive hand flapping. Clinically, the dynamic nature of these early, subtle behaviors may require more fine‐grained observation to identify meaningful differences during this highly dynamic period of early development. Summary: Video‐based pose estimation was used to examine kinematic differences in repetitive hand flapping during a 3‐min bubble play activity in autistic and non‐autistic toddlers.Event‐level analyses of all repetitive hand flapping instances revealed a significantly elevated amplitude of hand flapping in autistic toddlers relative to non‐autistic toddlers.Event‐averaged analyses appeared to mask group amplitude differences, suggesting that an event‐level analysis of repetitive hand flapping may better capture clinically meaningful kinematic differences.Findings underscore the possible added value of examining the quality of repetitive hand flapping to identify clinically meaningful differences during a highly dynamic developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Developmental Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 193279645 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Quantifying Repetitive Hand Flapping Kinematics in Autistic and Non‐Autistic Toddlers Using Video‐Based Pose Estimation. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stenum%2C+Jan%22">Stenum, Jan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Eiler%2C+Elizabeth%22">Eiler, Elizabeth</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roemmich%2C+Ryan+T%2E%22">Roemmich, Ryan T.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Landa%2C+Rebecca%22">Landa, Rebecca</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reetzke%2C+Rachel%22">Reetzke, Rachel</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Developmental+Science%22">Developmental Science</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 29 Issue 3, p1-10. 10p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kinematics%22">Kinematics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pose+estimation+%28Computer+vision%29%22">Pose estimation (Computer vision)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gesture%22">Gesture</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autism%22">Autism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Toddlers%22">Toddlers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tic+disorders%22">Tic disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infant+development%22">Infant development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+vision%22">Computer vision</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: While repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping are associated with autism, non‐autistic toddlers also exhibit this behavior (e.g., when excited), making clinically meaningful differences difficult to discern prior to age 2. Computer vision, a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI), has the potential to capture subtle movement differences that may otherwise be overlooked. We examined whether movement amplitude and frequency of repetitive hand flapping differed between autistic and non‐autistic toddlers. Based on prior literature, we hypothesized that autistic toddlers would exhibit more intense or vigorous flapping, as reflected by increased amplitude and frequency of repetitive hand flapping. We analyzed 81 manually annotated video segments from 28 toddlers (autism spectrum disorder (ASD): n = 14; no ASD: n = 14), ages 13–16 months (M = 14.78, SD = 0.85), participating in a 3‐min bubble play activity (1–10 events per child). Using AlphaPose, we automatically identified arm key points and quantified amplitude and frequency. Event‐level analyses revealed that, compared to non‐autistic toddlers, autistic toddlers showed significantly greater amplitude (p = 0.028) but did not significantly differ in the frequency of repetitive hand flapping (p = 0.464). In contrast, event‐averaged results showed no group differences in amplitude (p = 0.997) or frequency (p = 0.383). These findings highlight the variability of repetitive hand flapping and suggest that averaging may mask potentially important nuances of repetitive hand flapping. Clinically, the dynamic nature of these early, subtle behaviors may require more fine‐grained observation to identify meaningful differences during this highly dynamic period of early development. Summary: Video‐based pose estimation was used to examine kinematic differences in repetitive hand flapping during a 3‐min bubble play activity in autistic and non‐autistic toddlers.Event‐level analyses of all repetitive hand flapping instances revealed a significantly elevated amplitude of hand flapping in autistic toddlers relative to non‐autistic toddlers.Event‐averaged analyses appeared to mask group amplitude differences, suggesting that an event‐level analysis of repetitive hand flapping may better capture clinically meaningful kinematic differences.Findings underscore the possible added value of examining the quality of repetitive hand flapping to identify clinically meaningful differences during a highly dynamic developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Developmental Science is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/desc.70176 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 10 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Kinematics Type: general – SubjectFull: Pose estimation (Computer vision) Type: general – SubjectFull: Gesture Type: general – SubjectFull: Autism Type: general – SubjectFull: Toddlers Type: general – SubjectFull: Tic disorders Type: general – SubjectFull: Infant development Type: general – SubjectFull: Computer vision Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Quantifying Repetitive Hand Flapping Kinematics in Autistic and Non‐Autistic Toddlers Using Video‐Based Pose Estimation. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Stenum, Jan – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Eiler, Elizabeth – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Roemmich, Ryan T. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Landa, Rebecca – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Reetzke, Rachel IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1363755X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 29 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Developmental Science Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
