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Elizabeth Liddle, Georgina Jackson, Chris Rorden, Stephen Jackson
School of Psychology, University of Nottingham e.liddle1@ntlworld.com
Abstract
A biofeedback system designed to modify heart-rate variability was evaluated as a treatment for dyslexic adults. Treatment involved watching a visual display synchronised with cardiac phase, while in the control condition, participants watched a similar display synchronised with a synthetic heartbeat. Repeated measures were made of heart-rate variability (HRV), lateralised visual temporal order judgement, naming speed, reading speed and accuracy, and copying speed. At post-test, the treated group showed significant improvements, relative to controls, in both reading and naming measures. HRV measures indicated that treatment had effected an increase in heart-rate variability in the high frequency range associated with parasympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS) influence, relative to that in the low frequency range associated with sympathetic ANS influence. Results also suggested a significant shift in visual attention from left to right hemifield in the treatment group. The results are interpreted as suggesting that the treatment may increase activation in left hemisphere circuits implicated in both parasympathetic ANS modulation and naming tasks, relative to activation in right hemisphere circuits implicated in both sympathetic autonomic nervous system modulation and spatial attention to left hemifield.
Disclaimer: all the abstracts presented here have satisfied the academic committee as appropriate for presentation at an international conference. However, the material reflects the views of the authors, not necessarily those of the academic committee or the BDA. No endorsement of any approach, product or service is intended or implied.
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