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PATH to Reading Training Significantly Improves Timing Deficits, Improving Attention, Reading, and Working Memory Teri Lawton, Ph.D. Director of Research Perception Dynamics Institute Del Mar, CA 92014 tlawton@pathtoreading.com www.pathtoreading.com

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Problem 80% of low-income 4th graders and 66% of all 4 th graders in the U.S. are not proficient in reading, likely being a result of timing deficits. Timing deficits prevent: - Attention and reading networks from developing properly - Common Core from being learned

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PATH Created to Improve Reading Skills Visual Neuroscience 40 years Validation studies 30 years Patented technology ages 5 to 90 Team: UCSD, Educators, Optometrists, Parents, Therapists, Scientists, Students

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Why Is Learning So Difficult for Some People ? No need to blame the schools. Its neural timing deficits that can be corrected. Traditional strategies will not work unless this timing issue is addressed. Tuning the brain's timing unlocks a person's ability to think in a focused manner, using multi- tasking that relies on working memory and sequential processing.

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PATH to Reading Training Remediates Visual Timing Computer program Patented Software Rapid and effective Remediates attention, reading, and memory

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Stimulus Needed To Detect Dyslexia When the direction of motion is discriminated relative to stationary background Found for all types of Dyslexics

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PATH Protocol Show test frequency against different backgrounds Measure ability to detect left vs rightward movement Repeat for different test and background frequencies

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PATH Complexity Levels Complexity level increases: 1) Background Sinewave components (1 - 3) 2) Background contrast 5% - 20% 3) Patterns speed 6.7 - 13.3 Hz Students trained on 16 complexity levels - 1 motion direction (left or right), - 2 motion directions Repeated measures ANCOVAS were used to compare matched samples, controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, school attended,.

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Are students seeing dim movement? A fish in the net, means YES! Must see the patterns below 1% contrast (this is dim!). When seen below 1% earns another fish in the net at end of each pattern. The more fish, the better they did!

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How PATH Works

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Movement Discrimination Contrast Sensitivity Increased Significantly

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PATH Training Significantly Improved:

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More PATH Is Trained More Reading Rates Improved

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Biological Basis of PATH Training Dyslexics - Sluggish magno cells (dorsal stream) - Normal parvo cells (ventral stream) Sluggish magno Timing deficits between magno & parvo Imbalance between magno and parvo functioning causes specific deficit in reading

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Motion Pathways Cognitive processing problems Where What activated at same time, What does not know Where to look. Motion pathway = Where (fast) Pattern pathway = What (slow) Where What

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40 msec Delay Dyslexic Firing Rates Space Confusion ROB Time Misrecognition word Word Distortions for Sluggish Motion Normal word Pattern Onset Offset WORD Pattern Cells Motion Cells

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Disrupted PPC, DLPFC: Central Executive Network Disrupted MST, LIP, FEF Disrupted MT Disrupted magnocellular timing in V1 Low Level Deficits in Dorsal Stream Disrupt Processing at Higher Levels

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MEG Source Imaging Used To Assess Functional Improvements in Dyslexic Following PATH Training Subject was 29 years old, very bright, yet reading at 6 th grade level. Standardized reading, attention, and working memory tests to evaluate cognitive skills. Path training for 15 min two times/week for 8 weeks.

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MEG Brain Source Imaging Improvements Dr. Mingxiong Huang (UCSD) analyzed MEG source imaging evoked by low contrast 1 cyc/deg sinewave moving relative to 1 cyc/deg background. Substantial MEG signal increases in Dorsal Network (V1, MT, MST, V3) and Attention Network (ACC, DLPFC, VLPFC and precuneous/PCC). R L

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Major Behavioral Improvements Following PATH Training Visual Working Memory: 6 th % to 99 th % Delayed Recall: 1 st % to 25 th % Reading Speed: 154 wpm to 437 wpm Visual Focus: 1 st % to 54 th % Transformed his life!

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Conclusions Strong evidence of functional changes following PATH training are consistent with behavioral changes in - Dorsal Visual Processing Network (V1, V3, MT, and MST) and - Attention Network (ACC, DLPFC, VLPFC, precuneous/PCC). Advanced MEG source imaging technique (Fast-Vestal) for assessing functional changes with 1 msec temporal and 1 mm spatial resolution in multiple brain areas is beneficial for assessing cognitive rehabilitation.

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Improves Cognitive Skills Attention Processing speed Sequential processing Multi-tasking Cognitive fatigue Working Memory Useful Field of View Attention Processing speed Sequential processing Multi-tasking Cognitive fatigue Working Memory Useful Field of View Reading Fluency Comprehension Pronunciation Spelling Math Figure-Ground Navigation Reading Fluency Comprehension Pronunciation Spelling Math Figure-Ground Navigation

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Summary PATH to Reading Intervention (www.pathtoreading.com) Validated program based on neuroscience research Improves reading fluency Improves ability to pay attention, remember, and multitask By improving visual timing, PATH trains brain pathways to operate together Simple and fast to administer

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Backup

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How PATH Is Implemented Training Videos and Training Seminars PATH Training 10-15 minutes 2-3 times/week on computer, before guided reading Initially trained one-on-one until task learned After 1 week of individual training, can be administered to larger groups

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How Reading Rate Works

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MT Responses in Dyslexic Before and After PATH Training

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Standardized Tests Dyslexia Determination Test (DDT) Computer-based reading speed Gray Oral Reading Test (GORT) measures comprehension and reading speed Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP): Blending Words measures phonological awareness Cognitive Assessment Systems (CAS) Attention Scale: Stroop and Number Detection Test of Information Processing Skills (TIPS) measures visual and auditory working memory WISC Coding (Copying)

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FastForWord (FFW) FFW improves phonological processing lengthen phonemes until perceived accurately FFW builds auditory processing and oral language skills 7 computer-based auditory exercises train subjects Exercises progressively require: - longer attention periods - more working memory - better reading comprehension

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Nicholas had difficulty with many cognitive skills: - Unable to understand what he read, write down his ideas, - Unable to pay attention, multitask, or follow instructions, that was only able to be remediated after PATH training. Following a short amount of PATH training (20 min/week), Nicholas - Reading Speed increased from 99 wpm to 859 wpm - Reading Grade Level increased from 2 nd up to 5 th grade - Reading Comprehension increased one grade level from 8.6 to 9.6 - Pronunciation increased from mildly below to above normal - Spelling improved dramatically going from the lowest, markedly below normal to the highest scores in class, - Following Directions and paying Attention was no longer difficult, going from an age equivalent of 8.2 up to 10.2 (27 th % to 50 th %), and - Writing his ideas down which was previously impossible now became an enjoyable task, with copying increasing in age from 8 to 10. - Visual Working Memory improved from 50 th % to 90 th % - Auditory Working Memory improved from 13 th % up to 83 rd % Finds he is much less stressed and now can pursue any career desired! Training on PATH: Transforms a Persons Life

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Testimonial from 2 nd Grade Teacher After training on PATH to Reading all of my students really benefited. My students improved their attention span, paying more attention to class instructions, doing a better job at following and completing classroom assignments, being less prone to distraction than before, writing with less mistakes and more efficiency, more comfortable writing their own ideas on paper, improving their level of concentration and understanding of concepts and reading comprehension. Ximena Vidales-Zamosc, Second Grade Teacher, Walker Elementary, San Diego Unified School District