Performance and eye movements in Dyslexic children reading in manipulated environment

• Grant number: 19/15151-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: José Angelo Barela
• Grantee: José Angelo Barela
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Michel Andre Maurice Hospital
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/07201-0 - Technical qualification to use, data collection and analysis of dyslexic children performance, BP.TT

Abstract

Reading is not a trivial task, which involves several cognitive aspects and mechanisms in order to identify letter and words and their meaning. An important mechanism is the appropriate eye movements. Studies have identified eye movement coordination differences in Dyslexic children and adults. Several strategies have been proposed and used aiming to reduce and minimize reading and writing difficulties in Dyslexic children involving the manipulation of the text and context quality in which the reading/writing occurs. Colored overlays have been used leading to improvement in the reading fluency and speed. However, such use has also been questioned due to the need of quantitative measures and the understanding of underlying mechanisms related to such improvement. Recently, we have demonstrated that the use of a green overlay improved reading performance in Dyslexic children. More importantly, however, performance improvement was associated to eye movement changes speeding up the reading. Based upon these results, color changes have being incorporated in electronic devices, using specific Apps, changing the screen color similarly to the use of overlays, Such implementation was based upon the knowledge obtained using the overlay filters, and the effectiveness of such application in electronic device still needs to be examined. Yet, the difference and possible overlay effects may be related to the organization of eye structures underlying color detection. Recently, it was observed that Dyslexic adults show spatial symmetry in the fovea with S cones, denominated Maxwell figure, responsible to detect the blue color whereas non-Dyslexic adults present asymmetric figure. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to verify the reading performance and to examine eye movement characteristics in Dyslexic children reading with different colors in an electronic device; to map, quantify and compare the region of the Maxwell figure in Dyslexic and non-Dyslexic children. Third children with dyslexia and 30 children with no dyslexia will be asked to read texts with no color change and with color change similarly to orange, green and blue overlay colors, providing a wide range of the color spectral wavelength. Dyslexic and non-Dyslexic children will read the texts with an eye tracking system in order to monitor eye movements. Children from both groups will also be asked to perform a task to determine the Maxwell figure for each eye. Total reading time, number and duration of fixations, number and amplitude of saccadic eye movements will be obtained during each text reading. For the Maxwell figure, the shape and the area of the figure will be obtained also for each eye. Comparison among the color conditions (no filter, simulating orange, green and blue overlay colors) will be performed in order to verify possible effects of simulated overlay colors in the reading performance and eye movement during the reading conditions. Similarly, comparisons involving the shape and the area will be performed between eyes and children's groups. (AU)