The time course of attentional focusing in dyslexic and normally reading children.
A cue size procedure was used to evaluate the time course of visuo-spatial attention in dyslexic and normally reading children. When a stimulus target is presented inside a large cue vs a small cue the identification time is slower. In the present study two cue-target delays (100 and 500 ms) were used. Results showed a slower time course of attentional focusing in dyslexics vs normal readers. Indeed, dyslexics exhibited no cue size effect at a shorter cue-target delay (100 ms), while it was present at a longer cue-target delay (500 ms). In contrast, a cue size effect was found at both cue-target delays in normally reading children. These results further support the hypothesis of sluggish automatic focusing of visual attention in dyslexics. This impairment could be a consequence of a general magnocellular deficit demonstrated previously in dyslexics.
Facoetti
Andrea
A
Cognitive Psychology and Neuropsychology Unit, Scientific Institute E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
Lorusso
Maria Luisa
ML
Paganoni
Pierluigi
P
Cattaneo
Carmen
C
Galli
Raffaella
R
Mascetti
Gian Gastone
GG
D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D003463:Cues; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology