Temporal variability predicts the magnitude of between-group attentional blink differences in developmental dyslexia: a meta-analysis

Background. Here we report on a meta-analysis of the attentional blink (AB) research focussed on specific reading impairment, commonly referred to as developmental dyslexia. The AB effect relates to a limitation in the allocation of attention over time and examined in a dual-target rapid serial visual presentation paradigm. When the second target appears in close temporal proximity to the first target, the second target is reported less accurately.

Method. A Web of Science search with terms 'dyslexia attentional blink' returned 13 AB experiments (11 papers) conducted with developmental dyslexia (9 were included in this meta-analysis). The main pattern of performance was lower overall accuracy in groups of individuals with dyslexia relative to typically reading peers. That is, a between-group main effect. This meta-analysis examined the size of the between-group effect in relation to physical presentation characteristics, which differed between and within experiments.

Results. Four noteworthy variables were related to the between group effect-size; fixation duration (positive relationship, R² = .89, p <.01, n = 6), maximum temporal position of T2 (negative relationship, R² = .46, p <.05, n = 9), the difference between the minimum and maximum temporal position of T2 (negative relationship, R² = .53, p <.05, n = 9), and the stimulus onset asynchrony (negative relationship, R² = .46, p <.05, n = 9).

Discussion. These are discussed with respect to the preparation of task-set, temporal orienting, and speed of processing, recommending these as considerations for future research.