抄録
The current study investigates the effect of training on visual span size and reading speed. The visual span for reading refers to the range of letters, formatted as text, which can be reliably recognized without moving the eyes. It has been hypothesized that the size of the visual span imposes a fundamental limit on reading speed. However, the relationship between visual span expansion and increased reading speed has not been clarified. The present study involved two types of training. During word recognition training, eight undergraduate students were asked to recognize three or four words simultaneously. During saccade training, ten students were asked to read texts with larger saccades than usual. Reading speeds increased by 30% in both training groups. Word recognition training was more effective than saccade training on visual span expansion, especially in the left visual field. Changes in reading speed, however, were correlated with visual span expansion of the right visual field.
