Eye Movements and Sequential Tracking: An Effect of Reading Experience

Abstract

This study examines the eye movements of skilled readers in a sequential light-tracking task commonly used with developmental dyslexics. Research with dyslexic readers has frequently indicated that dyslexic readers display erratic eye movements when reading text. Pavlidis proposed that the characteristics of eye movements in a simple light-tracking task may be used to distinguish dyslexic readers from normal readers, constituting an objective test for dyslexia. In this study the performance of English and Iraqi skilled readers was examined during a sequential light-tracking task. Both groups displayed less stable eye movements when performing the tracking task in a direction counter to that by which they normally read script.