Electronic devise color change effect in reading performance and eye movements in dyslexic children

• Grant number: 19/11272-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: January 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: José Angelo Barela
• Grantee: Isabela de Campos D Auria Herz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil

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. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to verify the reading performance and to examine eye movement characteristics in dyslexic children reading with different colors in an electronic device. Twenty children with dyslexia will ask 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 children will read the texts with an eye tracking system in order to monitor eye movements. Total reading time, number and duration of fixations, number and amplitude of saccadic eye movements will be obtained during each text reading. 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.