An event-related potential study of visual spatial attention span in children with Chinese learning disability

Abstract

Objective To explore whether there is a visual spatial attention span deficit in children with Chinese language learning disability and the characteristics of brain electrophysiological dynamic change. Methods Adopting event-related potentials(ERP) technology and levels of visual spatial attention span with fixed location cuing pa-radigm were used to explore the characteristics of brain electrophysiological dynamic change. Results Based on the behavioral data, the repeated findings of analysis of variance on reaction time showed that both the main effect of the type of subjects[F(1, 35)=4.34, P<0.05, η2=0.11], and the main effect of attention span[F(1, 35)=138.75, P<0.001, η2=0.79] had statistical significance.The repeated analysis of variance on accuracy showed that the main effect of subjects type[F(1, 35)=4.99, P<0.05, η2=0.13], and the main effect of attention span[F(1, 35)=101.83, P<0.01, η2=0.74] were significantly different.Under large and small attention span conditions, the children with Chinese language learning disability showed a longer time of reaction and a lower accuracy rate than the children in the control group.With the electroencephalograph(EEG) data and under large and small attention span conditions, the Chinese learning disability children showed enhanced P1 amplitude and reduced N1 amplitude. Conclusions There is a visual spatial attention span deficit in children with Chinese learning disability which may be caused by a weak primary sensory processing ability and divided attention deficit. Key words: Chinese learning disability; Attention span; Event-related potential; Child