Visual Span is the size of the effective visual field and it is also the ability to remember and repeat a series of visual stimuli. This sounds very familiar for musicians. While sight-reading, we exercise this ability all the time. We see sequences on our visual field, we organize them, remember and reproduce them on the instrument.
According to the PTS II manual, this exercise requires "Visual Sequential Memory, Working Memory, Perceptual Speed, Visual Motor Accuracy and Sequential Processing" and this exercise is recommended for "individuals with memory problems, reading decoding problems, early grade arithmetic difficulty and visual magnocellular deficits".
Here, a sequence flashes on the screen one character at a time. You are suppose to remember the sequence and then type it (play it) on the computer keyboard.
Variables:
- Stimuli length: character numbers in the sequence range form 2 to 6.
- Stimuli size: medium and large.
- Stimuli type: numbers, upper case letters, lower Case letters, codes, (combination of letters and numbers).
- Delay: in some levels, you must withhold the answer while a moving distraction (bird, balloon, fish) appears on the screen. The purpose of the delay variable is to develop working memory*.
- Goals: 70% or greater, correct trials.
I recommend you to read:
The Perceptual Span and the Eye-Hand Span in Sight Reading Music**
Frances E. Truitt; Charles Clifton Jr; Alexander Pollatsek; Keith Rayner
Visual Cognition, 1464-0716, Volume 4, Issue 2, 1997, Pages 143 รข€“ 161
* Working memory is a process that involves remembering one stimulus while performing another task. This is extremely important when sight-reading.
** I will write a review about this article in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment