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Treleaven Masters Thesis-Final.pdf (925.28 KB)

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Improving reading performance in peripheral vision: An adaptive training method

Treleaven, Allison Jean
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460670659

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Vision Science.
Purpose: Reading is slow and difficult for patients with central vision loss, who must rely on their peripheral vision. Previous studies showed that peripheral reading performance can be improved with training on character-based tasks. While these studies mainly focused on the effectiveness of training, it is also important to develop a customizable training protocol because of the unique ocular condition of each patient. In this study, we developed a training paradigm that individualizes training by adaptively adjusting a testing parameter to maintain the task difficulty at a constant level. Methods: Fourteen normally-sighted adults participated in the main experiment and were randomly assigned to a training group and a control (no-training) group. All subjects in the main experiment completed a pre- and post-test one week apart. During pre- and post-testing, RSVP reading speeds and visual-span sizes (the number of letters recognized reliably without moving the eyes) were measured at 10° above and below fixation. Training consisted of four daily sessions (16 blocks per session, 55 trials per block) of identifying the middle letters of trigrams presented at various positions 10° below fixation. Adaptive adjustment was achieved by applying jitter with various amplitudes to the crowded middle letter. A separate group of subjects (7 normally-sighted young adults) participated in a supplemental experiment. In the supplemental experiment, image jitter was found to reduce the difficulty of recognizing crowded letters in the periphery. During training, jitter amplitude, ranging from 0× (static) to 0.108× letter size, varied on a block by block basis to keep task difficulty roughly at a performance level of 80%. Results: The training group showed significant improvements in both reading speed and visual-span size compared to the control group. In the trained field, visual span was enlarged by 5.0 bits (about 1 letter) and reading speed was improved by 49%. The learning transferred to the untrained upper field for both measurements (50% improvement for reading speed and an increase of 2.5 bits for visual-span size). The transfer for visual-span size was not complete. Conclusion: The adaptive training method developed in this study provides simple customization for each individual while being effective in enhancing peripheral reading performance. These findings have important implications for reading rehabilitation of patients with central vision loss.
Deyue Yu, PhD (Advisor)
Thomas Raasch, OD, PhD (Committee Member)
Teng Leng Ooi, OD, PhD (Committee Member)
46 p.
Cognitive Psychology
Perceptual learning; adaptive training; peripheral vision reading

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Treleaven, A. J. (2016). Improving reading performance in peripheral vision: An adaptive training method [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460670659

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Treleaven, Allison . Improving reading performance in peripheral vision: An adaptive training method. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460670659.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Treleaven, Allison . "Improving reading performance in peripheral vision: An adaptive training method." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460670659

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1460670659
828
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.