Detecting the contribution of V5/MT in reading, reading-related tasks, eye-movements and EEG-oscillations in children and adolescents with developmental dyslexia via high-definition tDCS: a protocol study

Background Neuroscientific theories of Developmental Dyslexia (DD) primarily focus on language-related dysfunctions and their associated brain networks. However, DD is also associated with alterations in sensory pathways. For example, there is reduced connectivity in DD, in comparison to controls, b...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC Psychology Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 744 - 14
Main Authors: Somma, Federica, Lazzaro, Giulia, Rima, Samy, Rainich, Kristina, Müller-Axt, Christa, Schmid, Michael Christoph, Vicari, Stefano, von Kriegstein, Katharina, Menghini, Deny
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London BioMed Central 07.07.2025
BioMed Central Ltd
Springer Nature B.V
BMC
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Analysis
Anatomical systems
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Brain
Brain research
Brain stimulation
Care and treatment
Child
Children
Children & youth
Clinical Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Developmental disabilities
Diagnosis
Dyslexia
Dyslexia - physiopathology
Dyslexia - therapy
Electroencephalography
Eye movements
Eye Movements - physiology
Female
Health aspects
Humans
Learning disabled
Left lateral nucleus geniculate
Magnetic brain stimulation
Male
Motion
Naming
Neurophysiology
Neuropsychology
Nonwords
Patient outcomes
Pediatrics
Phonemes
Phonetics
Phonics
Phonology
Physiological aspects
Physiology
Predictive coding theory
Psychological aspects
Psychology
Psychology Research
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Reading
Reading comprehension
Reading disorders
Reading processes
Registration
Sensory pathways
Social aspects
Stimulation
Stimuli
Study Protocol
Teenagers
Transcranial direct current stimulation
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation - methods
Visual Cortex - physiopathology
Visual domain
Youth movements
Italy
Sensory pathways
Left lateral nucleus geniculate
Visual domain
Predictive coding theory
Reading disorders
Brain stimulation
ISSN:2050-7283, 2050-7283
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background Neuroscientific theories of Developmental Dyslexia (DD) primarily focus on language-related dysfunctions and their associated brain networks. However, DD is also associated with alterations in sensory pathways. For example, there is reduced connectivity in DD, in comparison to controls, between the left lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and V5/MT, a motion-sensitive visual area implicated in reading. Most neurostimulation studies in children with DD target language-related brain regions to improve reading, often overlooking motion-sensitive visual areas. Our study aims to target left V5/MT activity using high-definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (hd-tDCS) to modulate reading, related processes and physiological mechanisms in children with DD. Methods Using a triple-blind, within-subjects design, 36 children and adolescents (aged 8–13 years) will undergo three conditions: (i) active hd-tDCS over left V5/MT; (ii) active hd-tDCS over V1 (control-site condition); (iii) sham hd-tDCS over left V5/MT or V1 (sham condition). Participants will read a text during each hd-tDCS condition. We will collect data on reading (text, lists of words and nonwords), reading-related processes (visual motion perception, rapid automatized naming of letters and numbers, phoneme blending), and physiological measures (eye movements, EEG-oscillations). Discussion The results of the study could elucidate the role of V5/MT in reading and reading-related processes and demonstrate the neurophysiological effects of V5/MT stimulation. This study may enhance our understanding of how hd-tDCS can induce reading improvement and guide neurobiological-based interventions for children and adolescents with DD. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05972200) on 8 April 2023.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
content type line 23
ObjectType-Undefined-3
ISSN:2050-7283
2050-7283
DOI:10.1186/s40359-025-03036-w