Sara Tomiyama
Papers
1
Total Citations
110
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Sara Tomiyama is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of developmental robotics and clinical intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders. Her work centers on leveraging human-robot interaction to enhance social communication skills, particularly joint attention, in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Tomiyama’s landmark 2018 study, “The impact of robotic intervention on joint attention in children with autism spectrum disorders,” has garnered over 110 citations, establishing a foundational framework for using socially assistive robots as therapeutic tools. Her research demonstrates that robot-mediated interventions can uniquely engage children with ASD, offering predictable, non-threatening social partners that facilitate the development of critical joint attention behaviors—a core deficit in autism. By systematically measuring gaze-following, pointing, and shared focus, Tomiyama has provided empirical evidence that robots can serve as effective bridges to human social interaction. Her work has been instrumental in shifting the field from anecdotal observations to rigorous, evidence-based protocols, influencing both robotic design and clinical practice. Tomiyama’s contributions continue to shape how technology can be harnessed to create personalized, engaging interventions that unlock social potential in children with ASD.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1