Application of Fuzzy Rule-Based Systems for Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Grant number: 24/07285-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Computer Science - Computational Mathematics
• Principal Investigator: Estevão Esmi Laureano
• Grantee: Letícia Lima Maturano Martins de Castro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Matemática, Estatística e Computação Científica (IMECC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Company: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC)
• Associated research grant: 20/09838-0 - BI0S - Brazilian Institute of Data Science, AP.PCPE

Abstract

This project aims to develop a fuzzy rule-based system to support the decision-making of healthcare professionals in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In Brazil, the diagnosis of ASD is made through the application of a series of specific tests and procedures established by World Health Organization (WHO). Although there is a protocol for applying some tests, many of them involve subjective and uncertain criteria on the part of both the specialist and the patient during the evaluation. In this context, we believe that the application of fuzzy logic, which is a theory developed to represent and process concepts with uncertain boundaries, is suitable for modelling such uncertain variables. Furthermore, fuzzy rule-based systems have the advantage of allowing the logical interpretation of a diagnostic recommendation through the most significant active rules for a given inputThus, producing an interpretable recommendation to the specialist, which is a very deserable prpoerty in applications of medicine.