Motion perception and eye movements predict reading readiness: Evidence from pre-readers in an action video game task

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is associated with deficits in visual motion perception and eye movement control, yet little is known about these processes at the pre-reading stage. We investigated motion perception and eye movement behavior in thirty-four pre-reading children (aged 4-6 years) during action video game Fruit Ninja (FN) play and rapid automatized naming (RAN) performance. FN and RAN scores were significantly correlated (r = 0.54, p = 0.001), suggesting a link between motion perception and object naming ability. While peripheral vision enabled faster fruit slicing (t = 11.28, p < 0.001), foveating objects was more predictive of FN and RAN performance. Children exhibited shorter reaction times for detecting right visual field (RVF) objects (t = 3.22, p = 0.003), aligning with adult findings. These results highlight the role of motion perception in reading development and support the potential of motion-based interventions for early reading difficulties.