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

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. Thirteen AB experiments have been conducted with developmental dyslexia (9 were included in this meta-analysis). The main pattern of performance is 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 the presentation characteristics, which differ between and within experiments. 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 = .47, p <.05, n = 9), the difference between the minimum and maximum temporal position of T2 (negative relationship, R² = .51, p <.05, n = 9), and the stimulus onset asynchrony (negative relationship, R² = .46, p <.05, n = 9). These are discussed with respect to the preparation of task-set, temporal orienting, and speed of processing, recommending these as considerations for future research.