People with Asperger's model social interactions on Second Life

Patients at the University of Texas at Dallas Center for Brain Health use Second Life in therapy for Asperger's Syndrome. (Courtesy Center for Brain Health)

University of Texas researchers are using the online world Second Life to help people with Asperger's syndrome practice social interactions. "Within the virtual world, they say they feel the emotion as they would in the real world, which role-play doesn't do. It's too artificial," said Sandra Chapman, chief director of the University of Texas at Dallas Center for Brain Health. "Once they begin to gain confidence in the virtual world, they can interact in the real world." ABC News