BALTIMORE, June 18, 2025— A new study published in PLOS Digital Health shows that an innovative video game created by researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University is providing valuable insight into how children and young adults with autism learn from their environment.
The game, called HaptiKart, resembles a racing game, where a player drives a car around a virtual track. Behind the scenes, the game quietly introduces delays to either visual feedback (what the player sees on screen) or physical feedback (what they feel through the steering wheel). This allows researchers to determine which sensation each player relies on more while driving.
In a study of 81 participants between the ages of 8 and 31, researchers found that those with autism were significantly more likely to rely on physical sensations rather than visual cues while playing the game. This tendency was strongest among individuals with more pronounced autism symptoms and lower IQ scores.
Dr. Stewart Mostofsky, Director of the Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research at Kennedy Krieger and senior author of the study, says the game could help identify kids who need extra support early on.
“We found that kids with autism tend to trust what their body feels more than what their eyes see,” said Mostofsky. “That’s important because most teaching, whether it’s learning to tie your shoes or understand facial expressions, relies heavily on watching and copying others.”
The research team suggests HaptiKart may serve as a quick, easy way to help therapists and educators tailor interventions based on how each child learns best. The game takes five minutes to play, requires minimal instruction, and could be used in clinics, schools, or even at home. Unlike traditional assessments, which often require expensive equipment or long testing sessions, HaptiKart offers an engaging alternative.
Dr. Jeremy D. Brown, Director of the Haptics and Medical Robotics Lab at Johns Hopkins University, says combining engaging video games with innovative technologies is a promising approach to help children with autism learn new skills by leveraging their unique sensory preferences.
“Haptic devices are becoming more ubiquitous in our everyday lives,” said Brown. “Harnessing these technologies to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic tools will benefit not only clinicians but their patients as well.”
Dr. Daniel Lidstone, currently an Assistant Professor at Penn State Harrisburg, says the results point to the potential of HaptiKart as a digital biomarker that could help clinicians assess sensory learning styles, track progress over time, and adjust therapy methods accordingly.
“This is a fun, fast way to understand how a child learns,” said Lidstone. “Our goal is to make this kind of video game intervention more personalized and accessible, particularly in underserved areas where access to specialists is limited.”
The research team hopes to expand HaptiKart for even younger children and explore its use as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.
Visit our website to learn more about this study and additional research underway at Kennedy Krieger.
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About Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally known, non-profit organization located in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region, transforms the lives of nearly 30,000 individuals a year through inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies, home and community services, school-based programs, training and education for professionals and advocacy. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders or injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. The Institute is home to a team of investigators who contribute to the understanding of how disorders develop, while at the same time pioneer new interventions and methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Visit www.kennedykrieger.org/ for more information about Kennedy Krieger.
