Brain implants, wearable sensors, and AI to read emotions and social responses in autism
Novel multimodal neural, physiological, and behavioral sensing and machine learning for mental states
This project combines brief brain monitoring, new wearable body and hormone sensors, and machine learning to better read emotions and social responses in people with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248257 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part by wearing new sensors that measure body signals (like skin responses, movement, and stress hormones) and by doing guided social tasks while researchers record brain activity when available. The team will link signals from brain recordings, wearables, and behavior with machine learning to find consistent markers of emotional and social states. Some participants may be people already undergoing clinical brain monitoring, while others will join lab sessions wearing noninvasive devices. The project also includes careful steps to protect privacy and address ethical concerns about monitoring mental states.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autism who can participate in lab-based social tasks or who are already undergoing clinical brain monitoring would be the most suitable candidates.
Not a fit: Those who cannot tolerate sensors or invasive brain monitoring, or whose concerns are unrelated to social or emotional processing, are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to better ways to detect emotional and social challenges and help tailor therapies for autistic people.
How similar studies have performed: Related work has linked brain recordings and wearable signals to emotions, but combining multi-hormone wearables, natural social behavior monitoring, intracranial data, and advanced machine learning is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shanechi, Maryam — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Shanechi, Maryam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.