Dataset Information

Searching for a minimal set of behaviors for autism detection through feature selection-based machine learning.

ABSTRACT: Although the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen sharply in the last few years reaching 1 in 68, the average age of diagnosis in the United States remains close to 4--well past the developmental window when early intervention has the largest gains. This emphasizes the importance of developing accurate methods to detect risk faster than the current standards of care. In the present study, we used machine learning to evaluate one of the best and most widely used instruments for clinical assessment of ASD, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) to test whether only a subset of behaviors can differentiate between children on and off the autism spectrum. ADOS relies on behavioral observation in a clinical setting and consists of four modules, with module 2 reserved for individuals with some vocabulary and module 3 for higher levels of cognitive functioning. We ran eight machine learning algorithms using stepwise backward feature selection on score sheets from modules 2 and 3 from 4540 individuals. We found that 9 of the 28 behaviors captured by items from module 2, and 12 of the 28 behaviors captured by module 3 are sufficient to detect ASD risk with 98.27% and 97.66% accuracy, respectively. A greater than 55% reduction in the number of behaviorals with negligible loss of accuracy across both modules suggests a role for computational and statistical methods to streamline ASD risk detection and screening. These results may help enable development of mobile and parent-directed methods for preliminary risk evaluation and/or clinical triage that reach a larger percentage of the population and help to lower the average age of detection and diagnosis.

SUBMITTER: Kosmicki JA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4445756 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Searching for a minimal set of behaviors for autism detection through feature selection-based machine learning.

Kosmicki J A JA Sochat V V Duda M M Wall D P DP

Translational psychiatry 20150224

Although the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen sharply in the last few years reaching 1 in 68, the average age of diagnosis in the United States remains close to 4--well past the developmental window when early intervention has the largest gains. This emphasizes the importance of developing accurate methods to detect risk faster than the current standards of care. In the present study, we used machine learning to evaluate one of the best and most widely used instruments for ...[more]

PMID: 25710120

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Project description:Autism spectrum disorder is the most used umbrella term for a myriad of neuro-degenerative/developmental conditions typified by inappropriate social behavior, lack of communication/comprehension skills, and restricted mental and emotional maturity. The intriguing factor of this disorder is attributed to the fact that it can be detected only by close monitoring of developmental milestones after childbirth. Moreover, the exact causes for the occurrence of this neurodevelopmental condition are still unknown. Besides, autism is prevalent across individuals irrespective of ethnicity, genetic/familial history, and economic/educational background. Although research suggests that autism is genetic in nature and early detection of this disorder can greatly enhance the independent lifestyle and societal adaptability of affected individuals, there is still a great dearth of information to support the statement of proven facts and figures. This research work places emphasis on the application of automated machine learning incorporated with feature ranking techniques to generate significant feature signatures for the early detection of autism. Publicly available datasets based on the Q-chat scores of individuals across diverse age groups-toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults have been employed in this study. A machine learning framework based on automated hyperparameter optimization is proposed in this work to rank the potential nonclinical markers for autism. Moreover, this study aimed at ranking the AutoML models based on Mathew's correlation coefficient and balanced accuracy via which nonclinical markers were identified from these datasets. Besides, the feature signatures and their significance in distinguishing between classes are being reported for the first time in autism detection. The proposed framework yielded ∼90% MCC and ∼95% balanced accuracy across all four age groups of autism datasets. Deep learning approaches have yielded a maximum of 92.7% accuracy on the same datasets but are limited in their ability to extract significant markers, have not reported on MCC for unbalanced data, and cannot adapt automatically to new data entries. However, AutoML approaches are more flexible, easier to implement, and provide automated optimization, thereby yielding the highest accuracy with minimal user intervention.

Project description:IntroductionCardiotocography (CTG) consists of two biophysical signals that are fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine contraction (UC). In this research area, the computerized systems are usually utilized to provide more objective and repeatable results.Materials and methodsFeature selection algorithms are of great importance regarding the computerized systems to not only reduce the dimension of feature set but also to reveal the most relevant features without losing too much information. In this paper, three filters and two wrappers feature selection methods and machine learning models, which are artificial neural network (ANN), k-nearest neighbor (kNN), decision tree (DT), and support vector machine (SVM), are evaluated on a high dimensional feature set obtained from an open-access CTU-UHB intrapartum CTG database. The signals are divided into two classes as normal and hypoxic considering umbilical artery pH value (pH?<?7.20) measured after delivery. A comprehensive diagnostic feature set forming the features obtained from morphological, linear, nonlinear, time-frequency and image-based time-frequency domains is generated first. Then, combinations of the feature selection algorithms and machine learning models are evaluated to achieve the most effective features as well as high classification performance.ResultsThe experimental results show that it is possible to achieve better classification performance using lower dimensional feature set that comprises of more related features, instead of the high-dimensional feature set. The most informative feature subset was generated by considering the frequency of selection of the features by feature selection algorithms. As a result, the most efficient results were produced by selected only 12 relevant features instead of a full feature set consisting of 30 diagnostic indices and SVM model. Sensitivity and specificity were achieved as 77.40% and 93.86%, respectively.ConclusionConsequently, the evaluation of multiple feature selection algorithms resulted in achieving the best results.

Dataset Information

Searching for a minimal set of behaviors for autism detection through feature selection-based machine learning.

Publications

Searching for a minimal set of behaviors for autism detection through feature selection-based machine learning.

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