Computer uses facial cues to spot if people have autism

AN ALGORITHM that analyses facial expressions and head movements could help doctors diagnose autism-like conditions and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. There is no simple test for autism or ADHD, but clinicians usually observe someone's behaviour as part of the assessment. "These are frequently co-occurring conditions and the visual behaviours that come with them are similar," says Michel Valstar at the University of Nottingham, UK. His team used machine learning to identify some of these behaviours. The group captured video of 55 adults as they read and listened to stories and answered questions about them.