title: Length effect in word naming in reading: role of reading experience and reading deficit in italian readers.
abstract: Vocal reaction times (RTs) in naming 3- to 8-letter words were measured in proficient and dyslexic readers (Study 1). In proficient readers, RTs were independent of word length up to 5-letter words, indicating parallel processing. In the 5- to 8-letter range, RTs increased linearly, indicating sequential processing. Reading experience was associated with both faster discrimination of individual elements and parallel processing of increasingly large word parts. In dyslexics, RTs increased linearly with increasing length indicating reliance on sequential decoding. Individual analysis indicated 2 profiles of RTs (Types A and B). In Study 2, the distinction between A and B dyslexics was not associated with the use of different reading procedures. However, a more marked speed deficit characterized Type B dyslexics.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Universitario di Scienze Motorie, Rome, Italy, IRCCS, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. dspinelli@iusm.it
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Filippo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Marialuisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zoccolotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D014825:Vocabulary