Visual Processes in Reading and Reading Disabilities

Over the last 25 years, reading processes have been the focus of an enormous amount of research in experimental psychology as well as in other disciplines. The theories and models emerging from this research have greatly advanced understanding of both normal acquisition and of reading disabilities. Although great progress has been made, there are certain aspects that have been relatively neglected in the current understanding. Specifically, the role of visual factors has received less attention than that of other component processes. This is particularly surprising since reading and writing are distinct from the other language processes of speaking and listening in large part by virtue of the fact that a visual dimension is involved. Relevant research is broadly scattered both geographically and in terms of disciplines, and there have been no major reviews or books concerned with the visual dimension of reading and reading disabilities. The purpose of this book is to bring together a broad range of evidence that concerns the role of visual information in reading and reading disabilities. Because reading processes are of central interest to cognitive scientists, neuropsychologists, psycholinguists, clinicians, and educators, this book should draw a very broad readership.

Dale M. Willows, Richard Kruk, Richard Kruk, Evelyne Corcos

Contents: Preface. K.E. Stanovich, Introduction. Part I: Background.R.L. Venezky, History of Interest in the Visual Component of Reading. D.M. Willows, M. Terepocki, The Relation of Reversal Errors to Reading Disabilities. M.C. Corballis, I.L. Beale, Orton Revisited: Dyslexia, Laterality, and Left-Right Confusion. Part II: Neuropsychological Bases of Visual Processes.S. Lehmkuhle, Neurological Basis of Visual Processes in Reading. B.G. Breitmeyer, Sustained (P) and Transient (M) Channels in Vision: A Review and Implications for Reading. M.J. Riddoch, G.W. Humphreys, Visual Aspects of Neglect Dyslexia. Part III: Visual Processes in Reading.D.W. Massaro, T. Sanocki, Visual Information Processing in Reading. E. Corcos, D.M. Willows, The Processing of Orthographic Information. A. Pollatsek, Eye Movements in Reading. A. Kennedy, Eye Movement Control and Visual Display Units. L.B. Feldman, Bi-Alphabetism and the Design of a Reading Mechanism. Part IV: Visual Factors in Reading Disabilities.D.M. Willows, R.S. Kruk, E. Corcos, Are There Differences Between Disabled and Normal Readers in Their Processing of Visual Information? C. Watson, D.M. Willows, Evidence for a Visual-Processing-Deficit Subtype Among Disabled Readers. W.J. Lovegrove, M.C. Williams, Visual Temporal Processing Deficits in Specific Reading Disability. J.F. Stein, Visuospatial Perception in Disabled Readers. P.H.K. Seymour, H.M. Evans, The Visual (Orthographic) Processor and Developmental Dyslexia. R.K. Olson, H. Forsberg, Disabled and Normal Readers' Eye Movements in Reading and Nonreading Tasks. P.G. Aaron, J-C. Guillemard, Artists as Dyslexics. Part V: Parameters Affecting Visual Processing.R.P. Garzia, Optometric Factors in Reading Disability. A. Wilkins, Reading and Visual Discomfort. R.S. Kruk, Processing Text on Monitors. Part VI: Conclusions and Future Directions.K. Rayner, Visual Processes in Reading: Directions for Research and Theory.