Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) Taps a Mechanism That Places Constraints on the Development of Early Reading Fluency

Arne Lervag, Charles Hulme

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that rapid automatized naming (RAN) is a correlate of early reading skills; however, the interpretation of this finding remains controversial. We present the results from a 3-year longitudinal study. RAN, measured with nonalphabetic stimuli before reading instruction has begun, is a predictor of later growth in reading fluency. After reading instruction has started, RAN continues to exert an influence on the development of reading fluency over the next 2 years. However, there is no evidence of a reciprocal influence of reading fluency on the growth of RAN skill. We suggest that RAN taps the integrity of left-hemisphere object-recognition and naming circuits that are recruited to function as a critical component of the child's developing visual word-recognition system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1040-1048
Number of pages9
JournalPsychological Science
Volume20
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2009

Keywords

  • DOUBLE-DEFICIT HYPOTHESIS
  • WORD FORM AREA
  • PROCESSING SPEED
  • ACQUISITION
  • ORTHOGRAPHY
  • ABILITIES
  • CHILDREN
  • SKILLS
  • LEVEL

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