Six sessions of rapid serial visual presentation training improves reading of Chinese characters in patients with central vision loss

Abstract

Purpose : Perceptual learning, defined as changes in sensory function through repeated practice, can improve English reading speed in patients with central vision loss. To further assess the potential of perceptual learning as a reading rehabilitation tool, we tested the hypothesis that six sessions of reading training would improve reading speed for Chinese characters in patients with central vision loss.

Methods : Fourteen patients with macular degeneration (aged 68.60 ± 11.47 years) were recruited as part of a larger, ongoing study using non-invasive brain stimulation for vision rehabilitation. Reading was assessed using rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), where Chinese sentences were presented one character at a time at various speeds and print sizes. Critical print size (CPS) was calculated as the smallest print size eliciting the maximum reading speed (MRS). Text reading performance was assessed using the Chinese version of MNRead Acuity Charts. Training consisted of six sessions of reading RSVP sentences, 2 blocks/session, where 4 print sizes spaced around CPS were examined at 4 speeds across 4 trials. MRS and text reading speed were log-transformed and CPS was compared before, 1 day after, and 1 month after all training sessions.

Results : Within-subjects ANOVA revealed significant log MRS improvements with time (F(2, 26)=5.24, p=0.01), with faster MRS at 1-day (2.42 ± 0.24 log characters/minute, p=0.04) and 1-month post (2.43 ± 0.27, p=0.02) compared with pre-test (2.34 ± 0.29). No difference was found between the 2 post-tests (p>0.99). The changes in CPS with training were also significant (F(2, 26)=4.70, p=0.02). CPS at 1-day post (1.15 ± 0.35 logMAR) was not significantly different from pre-test (1.21 ± 0.34 logMAR, p=0.30) but significantly smaller than 1-month post (1.26 ± 0.33, p=0.02). The training effect did not transfer to text reading speed with MNRead Acuity Charts (2.04 ± 0.38 vs. 2.05 ± 0.32 vs. 2.06 ± 0.36 log characters/minute (F(2, 26)=0.08, p=0.92).

Conclusions : Six sessions of RSVP training improved Chinese character reading speed in individuals with central vision loss. The reading speed improvement lasted for a month.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.