Dance promotes positive benefits for negative symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A systematic review

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder with stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Dance practice can elicit esthesia to stimulate the communication process through the notion of the phenomenal body that is recognized in an expressive and symbolic space. Objective: To conduct a systematic review to identify how dance promotes positive benefits for the negative symptoms in ASD. Method: We formulated the research question based on PICO: "What is the influence of dance on negative symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorder?". Databases were searched in March 2019 and included PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, PsycInfo and Web of Science. Results: We identified 9,350 studies of which five were selected for our review (a total of 266 individuals). All included studies showed an influence of dance on negative symptoms, including empathy, emotional expression, body awareness, behavior, and psychological wellbeing that impact on social reciprocity, and consequently the communication process, in ASD. Conclusions: Dance practice may contribute to body awareness and social involvement using techniques that provide mirroring, synchronization, rhythm, and reciprocity in adults with normal to high-functioning ASD.