scholarly journals Do standard optometric measures predict binocular coordination during reading?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joëlle Joss ◽  
Stephanie Jainta
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Fixation Duration ◽  
Dynamic Parameter ◽  
Complex Task ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Fixation Disparity ◽  
Explained Variance ◽  
Binocular Coordination

In reading, binocular eye movements are required for optimal visual processing and thus, in case of asthenopia or reading problems, standard orthoptic and optometric routines check individual binocular vision by a variety of tests. The present study therefore examines the predictive value of such standard measures of heterophoria, accommodative and vergence facility, AC/A-ratio, NPC and symptoms for binocular coordination parameters during reading. Binocular eye movements were recorded (EyeLink II) for 65 volunteers during a typical reading task and linear regression analyses related all parameters of binocular coordination to all above-mentioned optometric measures: while saccade disconjugacy was weakly predicted by vergence facility (15% explained variance), vergence facility, AC/A and symptoms scores predicted vergence drift (31%). Heterophoria, vergence facility and NPC explained 31% of fixation disparity and first fixation duration showed minor relations to symptoms (18%). In sum, we found only weak to moderate relationships, with expected, selective associations: dynamic parameter related to optometric tests addressing vergence dynamics, whereas the static parameter (fixation disparity) related mainly to heterophoria. Most surprisingly, symptoms were only loosely related to vergence drift and fixation duration, reflecting associations to a dynamic aspect of binocular eye movements in reading and potentially non-specific, overall but slight reading deficiency. Thus, the efficiency of optometric tests to predict binocular coordination during reading was low – questioning a simple, straightforward extrapolation of such test results to an overlearned, complex task.

Binocular Coordination, Fixation Disparity, and Ocular Dominance

Perception ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 25 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 128-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Radach ◽  
D Heller ◽  
P Wiebories ◽  
W Jaschinski
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Ocular Dominance ◽  
Visual Direction ◽  
Psychophysical Method ◽  
Reliable Estimate ◽  
Letter Detection ◽  
Fixation Disparity ◽  
Saccade Length ◽  
Binocular Coordination

In a series of experiments we have quantified the spatial and temporal dynamics of binocular coordination. Tasks studied ranged from simple scanning and letter detection to complex visual processing in text reading. In all of these paradigms we found similar eye movement characteristics: in 70% to 90% of the observations, the saccade of the abducting eye is larger, relative differences being in the order of 5% to 15% of the amplitude. During the subsequent fixation the disparity is typically reduced by a convergence movement (about 1 deg s−1), which sometimes exceeds the initial saccade amplitude asymmetry. Interestingly, the relative vergence contributions of the eyes depend on saccade length. For progressive 2-letter reading saccades, the left (adducting) eye accounts for only 20% of the total movement as compared to about 70% for 14-letter saccades. Up to now our analysis was limited to relative rather than absolute estimates of fixation disparity. To overcome this restriction, we measured disparity using the psychophysical method of dichoptically presented nonius lines as well as direct infrared pupil-reflection registration of binocular vs monocular fixation. Both measures were independent of target eccentricity (within a range typical for reading) and produced similar subject rank orders (Spearman's \rho=0.75). When we studied vergence movements in a letter detection task using autostereograms with different levels of virtual depth, it became clear that spatiotemporal vergence parameters can be quite asymmetric for both eyes. This led to the question of whether unequal contributions to vergence may be related to ocular dominance. This hypothesis is currently being investigated with a new procedure that provides a reliable estimate of subjective visual direction (the ‘cyclopean eye’) under static viewing conditions.

scholarly journals Fixation disparity during reading: Fusion, not suppression

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon P. Liversedge
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Visual Representation ◽  
Fixation Disparity ◽  
Binocular Coordination ◽  
Target Words

In this paper I present a brief review of some recent studies my colleagues and I have carried out to investigate binocular coordination during reading. These studies demonstrate that the eyes are often not perfectly aligned during reading, with fixation disparities of approximately one character on average. Both crossed and uncrossed disparities are common and vergence movements during fixations serve to reduce, but not eliminate disparity. Fixation disparity results in different retinal inputs from each eye, yet a single non diplopic visual representation of the text is perceived when we read. A further experiment, with dichoptically presented target words in normally presented sentence frames, showed that a mechanism of fusion rather than suppression operates at an early stage during visual processing. Saccade metrics appear to be computed according to a unified visual representation based on input from both eyes. based on input from both eyes.

scholarly journals The influence of vergence facility on binocular eye movements during reading

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Remo Poffa ◽  
Roland Joos
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Reading Difficulties ◽  
Eye Tracker ◽  
Fixation Disparity ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Eye Movements During Reading ◽  
Distance Conditions ◽  
Reading Distance ◽  
Binocular Coordination

Optometrists regularly use binocular measurements in patients with asthenopic complaints when performing close-up work. The focus of this work was therefore on the correlation of optometric parameters and objective fixation disparity (FD) measured by an eye tracker. In our investigation, 20 participants (6 male, 14 female) were subjected to a classical optometric procedure. Subsequently, these subjects read various sentences on a screen and eye movements were registered by using a RED500 eye tracker. The experiment was performed under two reading distance conditions. In order to be comparable with previous work, the present study was conducted under dark illumination conditions (J. A. Kirkby, Blythe, Drieghe, Benson, & Liversedge, 2013). FD values were deduced from objective eye tracking data during reading. Data analysis was done using linear mixed-effects models. FD was found to depend on vergence facility (t=3.3, p=0.004). Subjects with a low vergence facility showed more eso fixation disparity than subjects with a normal vergence facility. If studies of binocular coordination using eye tracking methods are performed under dark illumination conditions, vergence facility is an important parameter and should be accounted for. Neglecting this parameter may mask other important parameters. Vergence facility in context of reading difficulties may be important.

scholarly journals Who Likes What Kind of News? The Relationship Between Characteristics of Media Consumers and News Interest

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402110030
Author(s):  
Kai Kaspar ◽  
Lisa Anna Marie Fuchs
Keyword(s):  
Big Five ◽  
Information Filtering ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Uses And Gratification ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Explained Variance ◽  
The Relationship

Stimulated by the uses-and-gratification approach, this study examined the joint relation of several consumer characteristics to news interest. In total, 1,546 German-speaking participants rated their interest in 15 major news categories and several personal characteristics, including gender, age, the Big Five personality traits, self-esteem, as well as general positive and negative affect. Regression analyses examined the amount of interindividual variance in news interest that can be explained by this set of consumer characteristics. Overall, the amount of explained variance differed remarkably across news categories, ranging from 4% for entertainment-related news to 25% for news about technology. The most powerful explaining variables were participants’ gender, age, openness to experiences, and their amount of general positive affect. The results suggest that news interest should be defined and operationalized as a concept with multiple facets covering a huge range of content. Also, the results are important for media producers and journalists with respect to the conflict between increased need gratification of consumers and information filtering via personalized news content.

fMRI-Guided TMS on Cortical Eye Fields: The Frontal But Not Intraparietal Eye Fields Regulate the Coupling Between Visuospatial Attention and Eye Movements

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 3469-3480 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. Van Ettinger-Veenstra ◽  
W. Huijbers ◽  
T. P. Gutteling ◽  
M. Vink ◽  
J. L. Kenemans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Eye Movements ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Discrimination Performance ◽  
Visual Image ◽  
Single Pulse ◽  
Visuospatial Attention ◽  
Movement Direction ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
And Shifts

It is well known that parts of a visual scene are prioritized for visual processing, depending on the current situation. How the CNS moves this focus of attention across the visual image is largely unknown, although there is substantial evidence that preparation of an action is a key factor. Our results support the view that direct corticocortical feedback connections from frontal oculomotor areas to the visual cortex are responsible for the coupling between eye movements and shifts of visuospatial attention. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)–guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the frontal eye fields (FEFs) and intraparietal sulcus (IPS). A single pulse was delivered 60, 30, or 0 ms before a discrimination target was presented at, or next to, the target of a saccade in preparation. Results showed that the known enhancement of discrimination performance specific to locations to which eye movements are being prepared was enhanced by early TMS on the FEF contralateral to eye movement direction, whereas TMS on the IPS resulted in a general performance increase. The current findings indicate that the FEF affects selective visual processing within the visual cortex itself through direct feedback projections.

The Effect of In-School Saccadic Training on Reading Fluency and Comprehension in First and Second Grade Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dodick ◽  
Amaal J. Starling ◽  
Jennifer Wethe ◽  
Yi Pang ◽  
Leonard V. Messner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Second Grade ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Second Grade Students ◽  
Fluency And Comprehension ◽  
Physical Foundation ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
And Control

Efficient eye movements provide a physical foundation for proficient reading skills. We investigated the effect of in-school saccadic training on reading performance. In this cross-over design, study participants (n = 327, 165 males; mean age [SD]: 7 y 6 mo [1y 1 mo]) were randomized into treatment and control groups, who then underwent eighteen 20-minute training sessions over 5 weeks using King-Devick Reading Acceleration Program Software. Pre- and posttreatment reading assessments included fluency, comprehension, and rapid number naming performance. The treatment group had significantly greater improvement than the control group in fluency (6.2% vs 3.6%, P = .0277) and comprehension (7.5% vs 1.5%, P = .0002). The high-needs student group significantly improved in fluency ( P < .001) and comprehension ( P < .001). We hypothesize these improvements to be attributed to the repetitive practice of reading-related eye movements, shifting visuospatial attention, and visual processing. Consideration should be given to teaching the physical act of reading within the early education curriculum.

scholarly journals Unrestricted eye movements strengthen causal connectivity from hippocampal to oculomotor regions during scene construction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Ladyka-Wojcik ◽  
Zhong-Xu Liu ◽  
Jennifer D. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Oculomotor System ◽  
Visual Input ◽  
Causal Modeling ◽  
Oculomotor Control ◽  
Visual Stream ◽  
Functional Connections ◽  
Free Viewing ◽  
Scene Construction

Scene construction is a key component of memory recall, navigation, and future imagining, and relies on the medial temporal lobes (MTL). A parallel body of work suggests that eye movements may enable the imagination and construction of scenes, even in the absence of external visual input. There are vast structural and functional connections between regions of the MTL and those of the oculomotor system. However, the directionality of connections between the MTL and oculomotor control regions, and how it relates to scene construction, has not been studied directly in human neuroimaging. In the current study, we used dynamic causal modeling (DCM) to investigate this relationship at a mechanistic level using a scene construction task in which participants' eye movements were either restricted (fixed-viewing) or unrestricted (free-viewing). By omitting external visual input, and by contrasting free- versus fixed- viewing, the directionality of neural connectivity during scene construction could be determined. As opposed to when eye movements were restricted, allowing free viewing during construction of scenes strengthened top-down connections from the MTL to the frontal eye fields, and to lower-level cortical visual processing regions, suppressed bottom-up connections along the visual stream, and enhanced vividness of the constructed scenes. Taken together, these findings provide novel, non-invasive evidence for the causal architecture between the MTL memory system and oculomotor system associated with constructing vivid mental representations of scenes.

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