Critical flicker fusion thresholds (CFFTs) describe when quick amplitude modulations of a light source become undetectable as the frequency of the modulation increases and are thought to underlie a number of visual processing skills, including reading. Here, we compare the impact of two vision-training approaches, one involving contrast sensitivity training and the other directional dot-motion training, compared to an active control group trained on Sudoku. The three training paradigms were compared on their effectiveness for altering CFFT. Directional dot-motion and contrast sensitivity training resulted in significant improvement in CFFT, while the Sudoku group did not yield significant improvement. This finding indicates that dot-motion and contrast sensitivity training similarly transfer to effect changes in CFFT. The results, combined with prior research linking CFFT to high-order cognitive processes such as reading ability, and studies showing positive impact of both dot-motion and contrast sensitivity training in reading, provide a possible mechanistic link of how these different training approaches impact reading abilities.
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- Two Visual Training Paradigms Associated With Enhanced Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold
- Zhou, Tianyou (Author)
- Nanez, Jose (Author)
- Zimmerman, Daniel (Author)
- Holloway, Steven (Author)
- Seitz, Aaron (Author)
- New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
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Digital object identifier: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01597
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Identifier TypeInternational standard serial numberIdentifier Value1664-1078
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View the article as published at http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01597/full
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Zhou, T., Náñez, J. E., Zimmerman, D., Holloway, S. R., & Seitz, A. (2016). Two Visual Training Paradigms Associated with Enhanced Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01597