No differential attentional blink in dyslexia after controlling for baseline sensitivity

Previous research has associated a prolonged attentional blink (AB) with adult dyslexia [Hari, R., Valta, M., & Uutela, K (1999). Prolonged attentional dwell time in dyslexic adults. Neuroscience Letters, 271, 202204]. The AB represents a limitation in temporal information processing, estimated as the time interval between two targets necessary for accurate recall (e.g., [Raymond, J. E., Shapiro, K. L., & Arnell, K. M. (1992). Temporary suppression of visual processing in an RSVP task: An attentional blink? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 18, 849-860]). Utilizing single- and dual-target procedures, this investigation extended upon previous research. When controlling for baseline sensitivity as estimated in the dual-target condition, there was no significant difference between dyslexic and control performance. Finding no evidence of a single-target task difference or prolonged AB effect in dyslexia, it is suggested that baseline sensitivity differences relate to difficulties with task demands in dyslexic readers. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.