July Research Spotlight | Eyes on the Game: Using Video Game-Based Therapy to Build Emotion Recognition and Gaze Skills in Children with ASD
Includes a Live Web Event on 07/28/2026 at 4:00 PM (EDT)
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What if a video game could tell you exactly where a child is looking, and use that data to drive learning?
Join us for PEBBL's July Research Spotlight, where we're sharing findings from five consecutive case studies on Lookware, a video game-based program that combines ABA strategies with gaze-contingent eye-tracking technology to target emotion recognition and visual behavior in children with ASD.
Eyes on the Game: Using Video Game-Based Therapy to Build Emotion Recognition and Gaze Skills in Children with ASD
Tuesday, July 28
4:00 - 4:30 p.m. EDT
0.5 Learning CEU
Cost: Free
Presenters: Lauren Kryzak D'Amato, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, LABA | Vice President, PEBBL
Robert K. Ross, EdD, BCBA-D, LABA, CPBA-AP | Vice President, Clinical Development and Integration
What This Session Covers
Five participants, ages 4 to 8, engaged in 25 to 30-minute sessions across Visual Behavior and Emotion Recognition modules. The software applied differential reinforcement, prompting, fading, and behavioral momentum, automatically adjusting difficulty based on performance.
The data tell an interesting story. Participants improved emotion recognition accuracy as difficulty increased. Heatmap data showed greater face fixation during successful versus unsuccessful trials. And pre-response pupil dilation emerged as a predictive indicator of response accuracy, a novel finding with real implications for how we think about discrimination responding.
What You'll Learn
- How ABA strategies are embedded inside a video game format to target emotion recognition and gaze behavior
- How to interpret eye-tracking outcome data, including gaze duration, accuracy, and pupil diameter change, to inform individualized programming
- Where this research is headed next, including joint attention measurement, generalization assessment development, and pupil dilation as a predictive tool
Short. Applied. A genuine first look at where digital therapeutics and ABA practice intersect.
Meet PEBBL
PEBBL is our practice-embedded research engine. We study what works in real sessions, then fold the wins back into care. Track new studies, grab free CEUs at our Research Spotlights, and let us know if you want in. Details → PEBBL page • Career Interest form → Fill out.
Lauren D'Amato (Moderator)
Vice President, PEBBL
Bierman Autism Centers
Lauren Kryzak D'Amato, PhD, BCBA-D, is a professional in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). She became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2011 and earned her doctorate in Learning Processes and Behavior Analysis in 2015 from the Graduate Center of New York. Her career began more than 13 years ago as an in-home therapist for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Throughout her career, she has worked with clients across various settings, including homes, schools, clinics, and residential facilities. |
Robert K. Ross (Moderator)
Vice President, Clinical Development and Integration
Biostream
Dr. Robert Ross is the President of Ross Consultation a private practice focused on increasing access to high quality ABA services across the globe. Dr. Ross is also the Vice President of Clinical Development and Integration at Biostream Technologies. BiostreamTM, is a leading-edge technology company that uses video gaming software and eye tracking hardware to teach a range of social skills and social behavior. He is also a clinical advisor to TalkidoTM, an augmentative communication support for individuals with limited verbal communication skills and thus struggling to acquired vocal speech. For over 35 years, Dr. Ross has both provided direct services to children and families impacted by ASD, and served as the Chief Clinical Officer at Beacon ABA Services of Massachusetts and Connecticut where he oversaw all clinical, supervisory and staff training. He received his Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University and his Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Ross directed all research activity at Beacon as well as developed and taught in the Masters and Ph.D programs at Cambridge College for 15 years. He currently provides direct and consultation services to families, schools and educational programs in the U.S, Europe and the Middle East.
He is a founding member and current Past President of the Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavior Analysis (MABA). Dr. Ross is also a past President of the Autism Special Interest Group (SIG) of ABAl, and the ABAI Special Interest Group Chair, former Co-Chair of the Practice Track of the ABAl Annual Conference and has served three terms on the ABAl Practice Board. He has published over 20 peer reviewed articles related to autism treatment and presented at conferences throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Dr. Ross has also served as a Board member of the Progressive ABA Council.
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