A French startup has developed a simple, affordable app that analyzes eye movements to detect autism, drawing on cutting-edge research linking visual patterns to cognitive disorders.
Based in Lyon, Sibius is a promising startup highlighted in a November 28, 2019, press release from the Pulsalys incubator. Their e-health app, powered by artificial intelligence, aids in identifying neurocognitive disorders like autism through indirect measures of visual attention and tactile image exploration. Sibius aims to pioneer the first neurocognitive marker for clinical decision-making in routine medical practice, addressing a critical gap noted by its developers.
“For instance, with autism in Europe, families endure about four years of uncertainty between initial concerns and an expert diagnosis due to the lack of straightforward markers to accelerate decisions,” explains Guillaume Bezie, CEO of Sibius.
The app builds on research from the Marc Jeannerod Institute of Cognitive Sciences, which established a perfect correlation between eye movements and finger paths—termed "digitracking"—when exploring images.
Patients interact with a tablet displaying an image, such as a face. As they trace their finger across it, touched areas light up, mirroring natural eye paths. The app records and analyzes these movements. Research indicates autistic individuals often bypass faces, fixating on other image elements instead.
With advanced analytics and benchmarks, Sibius plans to detect additional conditions, including DYS disorders (dyslexia, dysorthographia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia), Alzheimer's, and concussions.
Autism often involves behavioral challenges in social interaction, communication, sensory processing, or motor skills. Notably, up to half of cases also feature gut issues; a 2019 study showed symptom relief from transplanting healthy gut microbiota.
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