PhD defence Yuewei Cao

Keywords: Dyslexia, Audiovisual integration, Reading development, Neuroimaging

"I see, i hear, i learn - audiovisual processing differences in dyslexic readers"

This thesis investigated how the brain combines visual and auditory information during reading in individuals with dyslexia compared to typical readers. Reading requires seamlessly integrating letters we see with sounds we hear, but individuals with dyslexia often struggle with this process. Using advanced brain imaging techniques including fMRI and EEG, this research examined whether dyslexic readers show differences in how their brains process and combine visual letter patterns with speech sounds. The findings reveal that dyslexic readers demonstrate atypical patterns of audiovisual integration, particularly in brain regions critical for reading. These differences may contribute to reading difficulties experienced by individuals with dyslexia. Understanding these neural mechanisms provides insights into why dyslexia occurs and could inform the development of more targeted intervention strategies. This research provides new insights into reading brain function and the neurological differences underlying dyslexia.

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