Coherent motion detection in preschool children at family risk for dyslexia

We tested sensitivity to coherent motion (CM) in random dot kinematograms in a group of 5-year-old preschool children genetically at risk for dyslexia, compared to a group of well-matched control children. No significant differences were observed, either in a group analysis or in an individual deviance analysis. Nonetheless, CM-thresholds were significantly related to emerging orthographic skills. In a previous study on the same subjects (Boets, Wouters, van Wieringen, & Ghesquière, in press), we demonstrated that both risk groups already differed on measures of phonological awareness and letter knowledge. Moreover, auditory spectral processing (especially 2 Hz FM detection) was significantly related to phonological ability. In sum, the actual visual and previous auditory data combined, seem to suggest an exclusive relation between CM sensitivity and orthographic skills on the one hand, and FM sensitivity and phonological skills on the other.