Mastake Higashi

Papers

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About

Mastake Higashi is a pioneering researcher in assistive robotics, with a focused expertise in developing therapeutic technologies for children with autism spectrum disorder. His groundbreaking work centers on leveraging human-robot interaction to improve joint attention—a foundational social communication skill often impaired in autism. In his most influential paper, "Therapeutic-assisted robot for children with autism" (2009, 46 citations), Higashi introduced a goal-directed robotic system designed to establish engagement and create a beneficial learning environment for autistic children. This work laid the groundwork for a novel intervention paradigm, demonstrating how robots can serve as patient, predictable social partners to scaffold critical developmental skills. His subsequent study, "The development of an assistive robot for improving the joint attention of autistic children" (2009, 12 citations), further refined this approach by detailing an interactive scenario using multiple modalities to enhance learning. Higashi’s contributions are notable for bridging robotics, cognitive science, and clinical therapy, offering scalable, technology-driven solutions for special education. His research has inspired further exploration into robot-mediated therapy, positioning him as a key figure in the emerging field of socially assistive robotics for developmental disorders.