Insights into Rett Syndrome girls' receptive vocabulary through eye movements and parental perception.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the receptive vocabulary of girls diagnosed with Rett Syndrome (RS) by employing eye-tracking technology and examined how these objective measures compared with parents' perceptions of their daughters' language abilities. METHOD: Fourteen girls with RS and eleven typically developing peers participated. Instruments included the Kerr Scale, a parental questionnaire on communication skills, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test - PPVT-4, and eye-tracking equipment. The PPVT-4's initial 12 cards, each displaying four images, were presented on screen for 5 s for the child's initial inspection. Subsequently, the same card was shown for 5 s with instructions to identify the picture matching the word, repeated three times in a randomized order. RESULTS: Eye-tracking assessments revealed that girls with RS with less severe symptoms, performed below typically developing peers with aged 3-4 years. The number of eye fixations emerged as a reliable metric for assessing their performance. A positive correlation was found between parental reports of their daughters' vocabulary knowledge and their ability to identify the correct stimulus, suggesting comprehension and active engagement in the testing process. CONCLUSION: This study presents a pioneering approach by combining parental perceptions with eye-tracking measures to assess receptive vocabulary in girls diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. Despite showing lower performance levels compared to significantly younger peers, the findings suggest that these individuals use less effectively eye contact as a mode of communication.

Low weight, socioeconomics and behavioral issues: examining a population in the Northeast of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Preterm and low weight children at birth are exposed to higher risks and rates of motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems. Being born under low socioeconomic conditions adds even more complexity to these children. This report describes the emotional and behavioral issues of a group of children who were born in low income families and had low weigh at birth in the Northeast region of Brazil. METHOD: A total of 100 children (47 with adequate and 53 with low weigh) were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist for behavioral and emotional problems, as well as with the Autism Behavior Checklist for autism symptoms. RESULTS: Results show no difference between the two groups (low and adequate weight) in terms of behavior problems or autism characteristics, however, it shows elevated clinical prevalence's of behavioral and emotional problems and more vulnerability for autism symptoms when compared to the general population. Data also showed the more years children spent in pre-school, the less internalizing problems they manifested. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the impact of low socioeconomics environment is more prominent in the development of behavioral and emotional problems than low weight at birth, in addition it points to the benefits of pre-school years for the emotional and behavioral adjustment of children from low income and with low weight at birth.

Basal ganglia and autism - a translational perspective.

The basal ganglia are a collection of nuclei below the cortical surface that are involved in both motor and non-motor functions, including higher order cognition, social interactions, speech, and repetitive behaviors. Motor development milestones that are delayed in autism such as gross motor, fine motor and walking can aid in early diagnosis of autism. Neuropathology and neuroimaging findings in autism cases revealed volumetric changes and altered cell density in select basal ganglia nuclei. Interestingly, in autism, both the basal ganglia and the cerebellum are impacted both in their motor and non-motor domains and recently, found to be connected via the pons through a short disynaptic pathway. In typically developing individuals, the basal ganglia plays an important role in: eye movement, movement coordination, sensory modulation and processing, eye-hand coordination, action chaining, and inhibition control. Genetic models have proved to be useful toward understanding cellular and molecular changes at the synaptic level in the basal ganglia that may in part contribute to these autism-related behaviors. In autism, basal ganglia functions in motor skill acquisition and development are altered, thus disrupting the normal flow of feedback to the cortex. Taken together, there is an abundance of emerging evidence that the basal ganglia likely plays critical roles in maintaining an inhibitory balance between cortical and subcortical structures, critical for normal motor actions and cognitive functions. In autism, this inhibitory balance is disturbed thus impacting key pathways that affect normal cortical network activity. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1751-1775. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Habit learning, action selection and performance are modulated by the basal ganglia, a collection of groups of neurons located below the cerebral cortex in the brain. In autism, there is emerging evidence that parts of the basal ganglia are structurally and functionally altered disrupting normal information flow. The basal ganglia through its interconnected circuits with the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum can potentially impact various motor and cognitive functions in the autism brain.

Percepção de faces em crianças e adolescentes com Transtorno Invasivo do Desenvolvimento / Face perception in children and adolescents with Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Percepción de rostros en niños y adolescents con Trastorno Invasivo del Desarrollo

Novas possibilidades promissoras de avaliação vêm sendo estudadas nos Transtornos Invasivos do Desenvolvimento (TID) como, por exemplo, análise dos movimentos oculares. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar crianças com TID e crianças com desenvolvimento normal na percepção de faces humanas, por meio da análise do rastreamento visual. Foram avaliados 10 participantes com TID, idade média de 11,9 anos (DP=3,22), pareados por idade e sexo, com 10 crianças com desenvolvimento normal. Dez faces neutras em branco e preto foram observadas por 10 segundos, controlando-se nos estímulos: gênero (masculino ou feminino); posição (normal ou invertida) e presença dos olhos (presente ou ausente). Observaram-se diferenças significativas: o grupo TID olhou menos tempo para a região dos olhos nas figuras masculinas; gastou menos tempo na face e nos olhos em figuras invertidas; além de utilizar menos tempo na fixação da face com olhos presentes e ocultados; já o grupo controle olhou mais na região dos olhos, quando os estes estavam ocultados.(AU)

New promising assessment possibilities have been studied in Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) such as eye tracking analysis. This study compares the perception of human faces in children with PDD and children with typical development through the analysis of eye-tracking patterns. Ten participants with PDD, mean age of 11.9 years (SD=3.22), were matched by age and gender with 10 participants with typical development. Ten neutral faces, in black-and-white, were observed per 10 seconds each while some stimuli were controlled: gender (male or female); position (normal or upside-down); presence of eyes (present or absent). Significant differences were found: PDD participants spent less time looking at eyes of male faces; spent less time with faces and eyes in upside-down figures and spent less time looking at faces with eyes and faces with occulted eyes; and control group spent more time looking at the eyes region when these were occulted.(AU)

Nuevas posibilidades de evaluación, como análisis de los movimientos oculares, estan siendo estudiadas en el Trastorno Invasivo del Desarrollo (TID). El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar niños con TID y niños con desarrollo normal en la percepción de rostros humanos por medio de un análisis de rastreamiento visual. Fueron evaluados 10 participantes con TID, edad media de 11,9 años (DP=3,22), pareados por edad y sexo con 10 niños controles. Fueron observados 10 rostros en blanco y negro por 10 segundos, controlandose: género (masculino o femenino); posición (normal o invertida); presencia de los ojos (presente o ausente). Se observaron diferencias significativas: el grupo TID miro menos para la región de los ojos en las figuras masculinas; gastaron menos tiempo en el rostro y en los ojos en figuras invertidas y gastaron menos tiempo en la fijación del rostro con ojos presentes y ocultos; y controles miraron más la región de los ojos en rostros con ojos ocultos.(AU)

Percepção de faces em crianças e adolescentes com Transtorno Invasivo do Desenvolvimento / Face perception in children and adolescents with Pervasive Developmental Disorders / Percepción de rostros en niños y adolescents con Trastorno Invasivo del Desarrollo

Novas possibilidades promissoras de avaliação vêm sendo estudadas nos Transtornos Invasivos do Desenvolvimento (TID) como, por exemplo, análise dos movimentos oculares. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar crianças com TID e crianças com desenvolvimento normal na percepção de faces humanas, por meio da análise do rastreamento visual. Foram avaliados 10 participantes com TID, idade média de 11,9 anos (DP=3,22), pareados por idade e sexo, com 10 crianças com desenvolvimento normal. Dez faces neutras em branco e preto foram observadas por 10 segundos, controlando-se nos estímulos: gênero (masculino ou feminino); posição (normal ou invertida) e presença dos olhos (presente ou ausente). Observaram-se diferenças significativas: o grupo TID olhou menos tempo para a região dos olhos nas figuras masculinas; gastou menos tempo na face e nos olhos em figuras invertidas; além de utilizar menos tempo na fixação da face com olhos presentes e ocultados; já o grupo controle olhou mais na região dos olhos, quando os estes estavam ocultados.

New promising assessment possibilities have been studied in Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) such as eye tracking analysis. This study compares the perception of human faces in children with PDD and children with typical development through the analysis of eye-tracking patterns. Ten participants with PDD, mean age of 11.9 years (SD=3.22), were matched by age and gender with 10 participants with typical development. Ten neutral faces, in black-and-white, were observed per 10 seconds each while some stimuli were controlled: gender (male or female); position (normal or upside-down); presence of eyes (present or absent). Significant differences were found: PDD participants spent less time looking at eyes of male faces; spent less time with faces and eyes in upside-down figures and spent less time looking at faces with eyes and faces with occulted eyes; and control group spent more time looking at the eyes region when these were occulted.

Nuevas posibilidades de evaluación, como análisis de los movimientos oculares, estan siendo estudiadas en el Trastorno Invasivo del Desarrollo (TID). El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar niños con TID y niños con desarrollo normal en la percepción de rostros humanos por medio de un análisis de rastreamiento visual. Fueron evaluados 10 participantes con TID, edad media de 11,9 años (DP=3,22), pareados por edad y sexo con 10 niños controles. Fueron observados 10 rostros en blanco y negro por 10 segundos, controlandose: género (masculino o femenino); posición (normal o invertida); presencia de los ojos (presente o ausente). Se observaron diferencias significativas: el grupo TID miro menos para la región de los ojos en las figuras masculinas; gastaron menos tiempo en el rostro y en los ojos en figuras invertidas y gastaron menos tiempo en la fijación del rostro con ojos presentes y ocultos; y controles miraron más la región de los ojos en rostros con ojos ocultos.

Padrões perceptuais nos transtornos globais do desenvolvimento: rastreamento ocular em figuras sociais e não sociais / Perceptual patterns in developmental disorders: eye tracking for social pictures and non-social pictures / Los patrones de percepción en trastornos generalizados del desarrollo: seguimiento de los ojos en cifras sociales e non sociales

Um dos prejuízos nos transtornos globais do desenvolvimento (TGD) é a interação social. Estudos que investigam os movimentos oculares nos TGD têm demonstrado que é possível quantificar e definir o fenótipo social dessa desordem. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar se pessoas com TGD diferem dos controles no padrão de percepção de figuras sociais (rostos de pessoas) e não sociais. Participaram 11 indivíduos do sexo masculino com TGD, pareados por idade, sexo e nível intelectual com grupo-controle. Os movimentos oculares foram registrados pelo equipamento computadorizado Tobii® 1750. Os sujeitos com TGD apresentaram mais padrões de omissão do que os controles (t[20] = 2,362; p = 0,028) e usaram menos estratégias de rastreamento organizado (t[20] = 4,249; p < 0,000). Análise do padrão de rastreamento revelou que participantes com TGD tenderam a explorar as figuras de maneira menos organizada, ocasionando a omissão de figuras e não percepção de estímulos. Esse padrão é importante para entendermos a percepção social nos TGD.

One of the main difficulties in children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) is social interaction. Eye tracking research in PDD population has shown the possibility of quantifying their social phenotype. The objective of the present paper is to access differences on perception of social pictures (faces) and non-social pictures (objects) for people with PPD and people with normal development. The research included eleven male individuals with PDD that were age, gender and intectually pared with a control group. Tobii® 1750 was the computerized equipment used to register the eye tracking movements. The perceptual pattern of individuals with PDD had more omissions (t [20] = 2,362; p = 0.028) and less use of organized tracking strategies (t [20] = 4,249; p < 0.000). Analysis of the tracking pattern revealed that PDD subjects tended to be less organized when exploring the pictures leading to perception omissions. These patterns are important to understand social patterns in persons with PDD.

Una de las pérdidas en los Trastornos Generalizados del Desarrollo (TGD) es la interacción social. Estudios de investigación de los movimientos oculares en el TGD han demostrado que es posible cuantificar y definir el fenotipo social de este trastorno. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar si las personas con TGD difieren de los controles en las características de las figuras sociales percibidas (caras de las personas) y no social. Los participantes del estudio fueron 11 sujetos varones con TGD, emparejados por edad, género y nivel intelectual con el grupo control. Los movimientos oculares fueron grabadas por el equipo informático Tobii ® 1750. Los sujetos con TGD habían más patrones de omisión que los controles (t [20] = 2,362, p = 0,028) y utiliza estrategias de detección menos organizados (t [20] = 4,249, p <0,000). Análisis de los patrones de seguimiento reveló que los pacientes con TGD tienden a explorar las cifras de una manera menos organizada, lo que lleva a la omisión de las figuras y la no percepción de los estímulos. Este patrón es importante comprender la percepción social en TGD.

Novas possibilidades na avaliação neuropsicológica dos transtornos invasivos do desenvolvimento: Análise dos movimentos oculares / New possibilities on neuropsychological assessment in pervasive developmental disorders: Analyses of eye movements

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo utilizar o rastreamento ocular como parte da avaliação neuropsicológica em crianças e jovens com TID. Foram avaliadas 10 crianças e jovens com diagnóstico clínico de TID, idade média 11,9 (DP=3,22). Todas as crianças foram pareadas por idade e sexo com um grupo controle. Avaliou-se a inteligência com o WISC III e o rastreamento ocular com Tarefa de Sacada Preditiva (SP) e Tarefa de Anti-Sacada (AS). Encontraram-se diferenças significativas para acertos, erros e latência para Tarefa SP; e erros seguidos de acerto para Tarefa AS. Resultados indicam falta de regulação da atenção voluntária, dificuldade em inibir um comportamento e direcioná-lo ao objetivo proposto na tarefa, alteração no planejamento de ação e dificuldade para iniciação de resposta no grupo TID. Todas as alterações encontradas corroboram dados da literatura. Conclui-se que a avaliação dos movimentos oculares contribui para a avaliação neuropsicológica, assim como para intervenções eficazes nos TID.(AU)

The objective of the present study is to use eye tracking in neuropsychological assessment of PDD children and adolescents. Ten clinically diagnosed PDD children and adolescents, mean age 11,9 (SD=3,22), were assessed. All children were pared by age and gender with a control group. The WISC III was used to assess intelligence and the eye movements parameters were assessed with Predictive Saccade Task (SP) and Anti-Saccade Task (AS). Significant differences between groups were found in the eye tracking tasks accuracy, errors and latency in the SP Task; and errors followed by correct responses in the AS Task. Results show lack on voluntary attention regulation, response inhibition, planning, and response initiation on the PDD group. All the differences corroborate previous literature. In conclusion, the assessment of eye movements in PDD children contributes to neuropsychological assessment, as well as to development of efficient interventions.(AU)

Novas possibilidades na avaliação neuropsicológica dos transtornos invasivos do desenvolvimento: análise dos movimentos oculares / New possibilities on neuropsychological assessment in pervasive developmental disorders: analyses of eye movements

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo utilizar o rastreamento ocular como parte da avaliação neuropsicológica em crianças e jovens com TID. Foram avaliadas 10 crianças e jovens com diagnóstico clínico de TID, idade média 11,9 (DP=3,22). Todas as crianças foram pareadas por idade e sexo com um grupo controle. Avaliou-se a inteligência com o WISC III e o rastreamento ocular com Tarefa de Sacada Preditiva (SP) e Tarefa de Anti-Sacada (AS). Encontraram-se diferenças significativas para acertos, erros e latência para Tarefa SP; e erros seguidos de acerto para Tarefa AS. Resultados indicam falta de regulação da atenção voluntária, dificuldade em inibir um comportamento e direcioná-lo ao objetivo proposto na tarefa, alteração no planejamento de ação e dificuldade para iniciação de resposta no grupo TID. Todas as alterações encontradas corroboram dados da literatura. Conclui-se que a avaliação dos movimentos oculares contribui para a avaliação neuropsicológica, assim como para intervenções eficazes nos TID.

The objective of the present study is to use eye tracking in neuropsychological assessment of PDD children and adolescents. Ten clinically diagnosed PDD children and adolescents, mean age 11,9 (SD=3,22), were assessed. All children were pared by age and gender with a control group. The WISC III was used to assess intelligence and the eye movements parameters were assessed with Predictive Saccade Task (SP) and Anti-Saccade Task (AS). Significant differences between groups were found in the eye tracking tasks accuracy, errors and latency in the SP Task; and errors followed by correct responses in the AS Task. Results show lack on voluntary attention regulation, response inhibition, planning, and response initiation on the PDD group. All the differences corroborate previous literature. In conclusion, the assessment of eye movements in PDD children contributes to neuropsychological assessment, as well as to development of efficient interventions.

Transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal cortex modulates the desire for specific foods.

We aimed to assess whether modulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) with noninvasive brain stimulation, namely transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), modifies food craving in healthy subjects. We performed a randomized sham-controlled cross-over study in which 23 subjects received sham and active tDCS (anode left/cathode right and anode right/cathode left) of the DLPFC. Subjects were exposed to food and also watched a movie of food associated with strong craving. Desire for food consumption was evaluated by visual analogue scales (VAS) and food consumption before and after treatment. In addition we measured visual attention to food using an eye tracking system. Craving for viewed foods as indexed by VAS was reduced by anode right/cathode left tDCS. After sham stimulation, exposure to real food or food-related movie increased craving; whereas after anode left/cathode right tDCS, the food-related stimuli did not increase craving levels, as revealed by the VAS scale. Moreover, compared with sham stimulation, subjects fixated food-related pictures less frequently after anode right/cathode left tDCS and consumed less food after both active stimulation conditions. These changes were not related to mood changes after any type of tDCS treatment. The effects of tDCS on food craving might be related to a modulation of neural circuits associated with reward and decision-making.

Low and high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of spasticity.

The development of non-invasive techniques of cortical stimulation, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), has opened new potential avenues for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases. We hypothesized that an increase in the activity in the motor cortex by cortical stimulation would increase its inhibitory influence on spinal excitability through the corticospinal tract and, thus, reduce the hyperactivity of the gamma and alpha neurons, improving spasticity. Seventeen participants (eight males, nine females; mean age 9y 1mo [SD 3y 2mo]) with cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia were randomized to receive sham, active 1Hz, or active 5Hz repetitive TMS of the primary motor cortex. Stimulation was applied for 5 consecutive days (90% of motor threshold). The results showed that there was a significant reduction of spasticity after 5Hz, but not sham or 1Hz, stimulation as indexed by the degree of passive movement; however this was not evident when using the Ashworth scale, although a trend for improvement was seen for elbow movement. The safety evaluation showed that stimulation with either 1Hz or 5Hz did not result in any adverse events as compared with sham stimulation. Results of this trial provide initial evidence to support further trials exploring the use of cortical stimulation in the treatment of spasticity.

[Analysis of the eye movement patterns in visual search tasks: effect of familiarity and stimulus features]. / Análise dos padrões dos movimentos oculares em tarefas de busca visual: efeito da familiaridade e das características físicas do estímulo.

PURPOSE: To analyze eye movements in asymmetric visual search using the task of normal and mirrored position letters. To evaluate the effect of familiarity and stimulus features. METHODS: Eighty-three university students with normal or corrected-to-normal vision were asked to search for a letter in inverted position to the letters in a group of either normal or mirrored letters. Four types of letters were used (Z, N, E and G) and the eye movements were tracked by a specialized computer-based system (eyetracking). The analyzed measurements were: reaction time, fixation number and duration, saccade distance and duration. RESULTS: All measures varied with the type of letter. Reaction time, fixation number, and saccade distance were higher when the task was to find the normal letter in a group of mirrored letters. In this condition, fixation duration was smaller. Interaction was found between familiarity and the type of letter for the reaction time, fixation number and duration. The reaction time and fixation number increased together with the stimulus complexity, with a greater increase for the normal letter target. Fixation duration, however, decreased with the complexity of the stimuli and the search condition. CONCLUSIONS: Finding a mirrored letter among normal letters proved to be easier than the contrary. The letter type also affected the performance. When the context is formed of unfamiliar complex stimuli, the fixation duration is shorter, indicating a narrower span for visual processing. Therefore, a greater number of fixations with shorter duration are needed for the unfamiliar context while less fixations with greater duration are needed for the familiar context.

Análise dos padrões dos movimentos oculares em tarefas de busca visual: efeito da familiaridade e das características físicas do estímulo / Analysis of the eye movement patterns in visual search tasks: effect of familiarity and stimulus features

OBJETIVOS: Analisar os movimentos oculares numa tarefa de busca visual assimétrica com letras normais e espelhadas. Explorar o efeito da familiaridade e características do estímulo. MÉTODOS: Oitenta e três universitários emétropes ou com correção óptica foram solicitados a procurar por uma letra normal ou espelhada, num contexto de letras espelhadas ou normais, respectivamente. Foram utilizados quatro tipos de letras (Z, N, E e G) e os movimentos dos olhos foram rastreados por meio de um sistema computacional especializado (eyetracking). As medidas utilizadas para análise foram: tempo de reação, duração e número de fixações, duração e distância dos movimentos sacádicos. RESULTADOS: A análise em função do tipo de letra mostrou diferenças para todas as medidas. O tempo de reação, o número de fixações e a distância média dos movimentos sacádicos foram maiores para encontrar uma letra normal em um conjunto de letras espelhadas. A duração média das fixações, entretanto, foi menor nessa situação. Houve interação dupla entre espelhamento e tipo de letra para o tempo de reação, duração média e número de fixações. O tempo de reação e o número de fixações apresentam função crescente de acordo com o grau de complexidade do estímulo, com aumento acentuado na situação em que o alvo é a letra normal. A duração das fixações, por sua vez, diminui em função da complexidade do estímulo e da situação. CONCLUSÕES: Foi mais fácil encontrar uma letra espelhada entre as normais, que o oposto, sendo que o desempenho também sofreu influência do tipo de letra. Quando o contexto é formado por estímulos não familiares e complexos, a duração média das fixações é menor, indicando um processamento visual com amplitude reduzida. Desta forma, são necessárias mais fixações com menor duração para um contexto não familiar e menos fixações com maior duração, para o familiar.

PURPOSE: To analyze eye movements in asymmetric visual search using the task of normal and mirrored position letters. To evaluate the effect of familiarity and stimulus features. METHODS: Eighty-three university students with normal or corrected-to-normal vision were asked to search for a letter in inverted position to the letters in a group of either normal or mirrored letters. Four types of letters were used (Z, N, E and G) and the eye movements were tracked by a specialized computer-based system (eyetracking). The analyzed measurements were: reaction time, fixation number and duration, saccade distance and duration. RESULTS: All measures varied with the type of letter. Reaction time, fixation number, and saccade distance were higher when the task was to find the normal letter in a group of mirrored letters. In this condition, fixation duration was smaller. Interaction was found between familiarity and the type of letter for the reaction time, fixation number and duration. The reaction time and fixation number increased together with the stimulus complexity, with a greater increase for the normal letter target. Fixation duration, however, decreased with the complexity of the stimuli and the search condition. CONCLUSIONS: Finding a mirrored letter among normal letters proved to be easier than the contrary. The letter type also affected the performance. When the context is formed of unfamiliar complex stimuli, the fixation duration is shorter, indicating a narrower span for visual processing. Therefore, a greater number of fixations with shorter duration are needed for the unfamiliar context while less fixations with greater duration are needed for the familiar context.

Teleavaliação da habilidade de leitura no ensino infantil e fundamental / Long distance assessment of reading ability in schoolars

0 desenvolvimento da Internet possibilitou criar instrumentos computadorizados para avaliaçao psicológica no contexto escolar, porém é necessário verificar a eficácia dessas tecnologias. Este estudo avaliou a viabilidade de aplicar via Internet o Teste de Competência de Leitura Silenciosa On-line para avaliar a habilidade de decisão lexical. Participaram 415 crianças de Ensinos Infantil (EI) e Fundamental (EF), com idade média de 8,24 anos (DP=l,23). 0 teste foi aplicado via Internet e os dadoa armazenados automaticamente. Resultados mostram que a pontuação aumentou em função da série, com diferenças significativas entre séries sucessivas, exceto entre 3ª e 4ª série. Análise dos erros em função do tipo de itens revelou que crianças de E13 apresentaram dificuldade de acesso an léxico ortográfico. 0 padrão de respostas na aplicação via Internet foi semelhante ao da versão tradicional. Tais resultados mostram que é viável usar a Internet para coletar dados de testes baseados em constructos teóricos

Technological advances have permitted devising new Internet-mediated psychological assessment tools for the school context. It is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of such instruments. This study analyses the validity of The Silence Reading Skills Test-On-line for assessing lexical decision skills. The study involved 451 children with mean age of 8,24 (SD=1,23) from pre-school and primary school. The test was administered through Internet with automatic result recording. Results showed that scores increased significantly over successive school levels (except from 3rd to 4th grade). Error analysis revealed that pre-school children have difficulty with orthographic lexicon. The Web-based application produced response patterns equivalent to those obtained in the typical paper and pencil application. Results corroborated the feasibility of using the Internet for collecting data of tests based on theoretical constructs.

Teleavaliação da habilidade de leitura no ensino infantil e fundamental / Long distance assessment of reading ability in schoolars

0 desenvolvimento da Internet possibilitou criar instrumentos computadorizados para avaliaçao psicológica no contexto escolar, porém é necessário verificar a eficácia dessas tecnologias. Este estudo avaliou a viabilidade de aplicar via Internet o Teste de Competência de Leitura Silenciosa On-line para avaliar a habilidade de decisão lexical. Participaram 415 crianças de Ensinos Infantil (EI) e Fundamental (EF), com idade média de 8,24 anos (DP=l,23). 0 teste foi aplicado via Internet e os dadoa armazenados automaticamente. Resultados mostram que a pontuação aumentou em função da série, com diferenças significativas entre séries sucessivas, exceto entre 3ª e 4ª série. Análise dos erros em função do tipo de itens revelou que crianças de E13 apresentaram dificuldade de acesso an léxico ortográfico. 0 padrão de respostas na aplicação via Internet foi semelhante ao da versão tradicional. Tais resultados mostram que é viável usar a Internet para coletar dados de testes baseados em constructos teóricos(AU)