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Enhancing Social Lives With Virtual Reality

An avatar shown in a virtual environment; they are standing on a sidewalk in front of a theater called "Gemini." Listed showings at the theater include "Group Hug" and "Blue Harvest".

Center for BrainHealth

Many people struggle in social situations. Reading facial expressions and knowing how to respond are a daily challenge for many with high-functioning autism as well as for some who are not on the spectrum. Since 2008, researchers at the Center for BrainHealth® have been investigating how to provide social brain-training using a virtual reality platform. The resulting scientifically tested program immerses participants in a video game like environment that includes dynamic face-tracking technology and a live clinician whose avatar provides social coaching through a variety of conversational scenarios. Learn more about the
  • To find out if you are eligible to participate in the research study, Social Awareness in Young Adults with Autism (Ages 17-40), click here.
  • The Brain Performance Institute, part of the Center for BrainHealth, is currently offering this social cognition virtual reality training to the public. To find out more about the Strategy-Based Social Cognition Training for people 8-17, click here.
  • If you have questions, or would like to learn more, email us at BrainHealthVR@utdallas.edu.
See the Today show story featuring Maria Shriver.

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