Embedding Cognitive Evaluation in New Music Technologies

This thesis research examines new music technologies as a clinical intervention for individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. The technological application mediates and supports group music making. The intervention will be designed to affect the domains where autistic individuals show symptomatic behaviors: communication, psychosocial interaction, and repetitive behavior. Furthermore, through working with the interface, a user will generate quantifiable information pertaining to their cognitive performance on domain specific cognitive tasks. This information will be valuable for correlation with emergent social behavior as measured by the system. The primary contribution of the work will be to develop the design principles and methodology to track cognitive features over the course of a complex music interaction.