title: Egocentric reference in bidirectional readers as measured by the straight-ahead pointing task.
abstract: The present study aimed to show that bidirectional reading and language exposure influence the position of egocentric reference (ER), the perceived direction of the body's sagittal axis proposed to act as an anchor for movements in extracorporeal space. Directional factors (e.g., visual scanning bias and reading habits) have been proposed to influence visuospatial performance, such as in line bisection and figure drawing. In past studies, bidirectional readers have been less consistent in demonstrating a bias compared to unidirectional readers. Using a straight-ahead pointing task to assess egocentric reference, we compared 14 unidirectional left-to-right readers (Uni-LR) to three bidirectional reading groups that differed in the reading direction of their native language and/or the level of their second language literacy: 16 low-English literate, native right-to-left, bidirectional readers (Lo-Bi-RL), 13 high-English literate, native right-to-left, bidirectional readers (Hi-Bi-RL), and 15 native left-to-right, bidirectional readers (Bi-LR). Participants were asked to point straight-ahead while blindfolded using either a left-to-right or a right-to-left scanning direction to approach the subjective sagittal midline. Uni-LRs showed left-side spatial bias when scanning left-to-right and right-side bias during right-to-left scanning, Bi-LRs and Lo-Bi-RLs (i.e., intermediate level or less in their second language) demonstrated the opposite pattern, and Hi-Bi-RLs showed left-side spatial bias regardless of scanning direction. Results are discussed in terms of accuracy and spatial bias regarding the interaction between reading direction and spatial cognition based on the level of bidirectional literacy and language exposure.
authors.affiliation: ERT TREAT Vision, Laboratoire de Psychologie et NeuroCognition, UMR 5105 CNRS-Université Pierre Mendès France, 1251, avenue Centrale, 38040 Grenoble, France. seta.kazandjian@upmf-grenoble.fr
authors.forename: Seta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kazandjian
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dupierrix
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaash
authors.forename: Itamar Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: Ari Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Zivotofsky
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Agostini
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chokron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D004522:Educational Status; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult