Reading with motion in the visual periphery

Background. Moving and distracting stimuli often occur in the peripheral vi sual field during visual tasks in daily life. Do they influence reading per formance! Method. In 30 normal subjects with a normal visual acuity we investigated e ye movements by electronystagmography (ENG) during silent reading of a stan dardized text. The 17 degrees -wide text was presented at a distance of 1 m , ENG was recorded bitemporally. Blinks were monitored via vertical ENG ele ctrodes. For surrounding stimulation we presented a bar stimulus moving at 30 degrees /s. Three experimental conditions were compared: [1] no peripher al motion,[2] peripheral motion to the right,and [3] peripheral motion to t he left. We quantitatively analyzed reading speed and blink frequency. Results. Reading speed and blink frequency was nearly identical in the thre e experimental conditions,they differed by 1-8%. Conclusions. Although the full periphery was stimulated, and the moving sti mulus was noticed by our subjects, reading was not affected by surrounding optokinetic stimulation. Attentive reading does not appear to be affected b y visual motion in the periphery.