Akiyo Horiguchi

Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Akiyo Horiguchi is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, with a specialized focus on robot-assisted activities (RAA) for pediatric healthcare. Her work centers on the therapeutic and emotional impact of robotic pets on hospitalized and outpatient children, exploring how these interactions can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and enhance quality of life (QOL) in clinical settings. Her most cited study (2004, 10 citations) conducted a trial of RAA using robotic pets with preschool and school-aged children in a children’s hospital, demonstrating measurable improvements in mood and human-robot bonding. A subsequent paper (2005, 2 citations) extended this work to outpatient waiting rooms, analyzing specific child behaviors and responses to robotic stimuli. Though her citation counts are modest, Horiguchi’s research is notable for its early, human-centered application of robotics in pediatric care—a field that has since grown substantially. Her contributions laid foundational groundwork for understanding how socially assistive robots can serve as non-pharmacological interventions in child healthcare, influencing later studies on robotic therapy and child-robot interaction design.