Effects of visual span on Chinese reading performance in normal peripheral vision

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship among temporal processing speed, spatial visual span and Chinese character reading speed in normal central and peripheral vision. Maximum reading speed (MRS) and critical print size (CPS) of 26 native Chinese readers (13 young and 13 older adults) were determined at three visual field locations: central vision, 10o left and 10o below fixation using the rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task. Temporal processing speed was measured using trigrams of randomly selected Chinese characters presented at a range of exposure durations, while spatial visual span was measured using trigrams presented at different spatial positions. We found that faster MRS was significantly associated with faster temporal processing speed and larger spatial visual span at the central and inferior visual field locations, but not at the left of the fixation location. As expected, reading and visual span metrics were better in central vision compared to both non-central presentation locations. In addition, reading, temporal processing, and spatial visual span metrics were better in the younger than older subjects for central and inferior vision, but not for the left of fixation condition. Our results for central and inferior presentation locations support the hypothesis that temporal processing speed and spatial visual span were associated with Chinese character reading speed. Surprisingly, no association was observed for the 10o left of the fixation presentation location, suggesting that the factors affecting reading speed differ for inferior and lateral mid-peripheral viewing locations.

A perceptual field test in object experts using gaze-contingent eye tracking

“…Some studies report an asymmetry around fixation that depends on the reading direction of the language. For example, readers of left-toright languages (e.g., English) show a right-biased asymmetry with a larger field to the right compared to left of fixation (Lyu et al 2022;McConkie & Rayner, 1975Pollatsek et al 1981; for review, see Rayner, 2014). Finally, brain injury causing impairments of face recognition (i.e., acquired prosopagnosia) also constricts the perceptual field of face recognition to single face features (Van Belle et al 2010b;Van Belle, et al 2011;Van Belle et al 2015).…”