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For over 150 years, the study of patients with acquired alexia has fueled research aimed at disentangling the neural system critical for reading. An unreached goal, however, relates to the determination of the fiber pathways that root the different visual and linguistic processes needed for accurate word reading. In a unique series of neurosurgical patients with a tumor close to the visual word form area, we combine direct electrostimulation and population-based streamline tractography to map the disconnectivity fingerprints characterizing dissociated forms of alexia. Comprehensive analyses of disconnectivity matrices establish similarities and dissimilarities in the disconnection patterns associated with pure, phonological and lexical-semantic alexia. While disconnections of the inferior longitudinal and posterior arcuate fasciculi are common to all alexia subtypes, disconnections of the long arcuate and vertical occipital fasciculi are specific to phonological and pure alexia, respectively. These findings provide a strong anatomical background for cognitive and neurocomputational models of reading., Sam Ng et al. combine direct electrostimulation and population-based streamline tractography to map the disconnectivity fingerprints characterizing dissociated forms of alexia in neurosurgical patients with tumors close to the visual word form area. Their data sheds light on the anatomical background for cognitive and neurocomputational models of reading

International audience; The present study investigated the impact of inter-character spacing on saccade programming in beginning readers and dyslexic children. In two experiments, eye movements were recorded while dyslexic children, reading-age, and chronological-age controls, performed an oculomotor lateralized bisection task on words and strings of hashes presented either with default inter-character spacing or with extra spacing between the characters. The results of Experiment 1 showed that (1) only proficient readers had already developed highly automatized procedures for programming both left- and rightward saccades, depending on the discreteness of the stimuli and (2) children of all groups were disrupted (i.e., had trouble to land close to the beginning of the stimuli) by extra spacing between the characters of the stimuli, and particularly for stimuli presented in the left visual field. Experiment 2 was designed to disentangle the role of inter-character spacing and spatial width. Stimuli were made the same physical length in the default and extra-spacing conditions by having more characters in the default spacing condition. Our results showed that inter-letter spacing still influenced saccade programming when controlling for spatial width, thus confirming the detrimental effect of extra spacing for saccade programming. We conclude that the beneficial effect of increased inter-letter spacing on reading can be better explained in terms of decreased visual crowding than improved saccade targeting.

Introduction: The introduction of computers in physicians’ offices began in the early 1990’s and accelerated since 1999 because obligation was made for doctors to send their invoices electronically to the social security management system. The computer’s entrance in doctor’s office hence happened without any consideration on its possible impact on the doctor-patient relationship during consultation. We will focus on the impact of the computer screen as an interfering object in the relationship.Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative non-probabilistic study led in general practitioners’ offices in the Paris region with an online self-administered questionnaire from September to November 2015.Results: Screen content was not visible for the patient in 71% of cases. 2/3 of the doctors would prefer a different configuration of their desktop. 84% used their computer screen to educate patients. 70% claimed looking at their screen less than 30% of the time. Women spent significantly more time looking at it. Time spent looking at the screen was considered too important for 23% and more particularly for the 25-30 year-old doctors. The average grade for the impact of the screen on the relationship was rated +0,603 [±2,350].Discussion: In our study, computer screen appears well integrated in the consultation, but doctors don’t seem fully aware of all sides of its impact. To reduce the inconvenience the screen causes to the relationship, the main actions would be: a rotating screen used to educate patients, computer typing at appropriate moments, keeping an eye contact with the patient.; Introduction : L’informatisation des cabinets médicaux, initiée au début des années 1990, s’est accélérée à partir de 1999 suite à l’obligation faite aux médecins libéraux de télétransmettre les feuilles de soins. L’irruption de l’ordinateur au sein du cabinet s’est donc faite sans réflexion sur son impact éventuel dans la relation médecin-patient au cours de la consultation. Nous nous intéresserons plus particulièrement à l’impact de l’écran en tant qu’objet interférant dans la relation.Matériel et méthode : Il s’agit d’une étude transversale descriptive quantitative non probabiliste menée dans des cabinets ambulatoires de médecine générale d’Ile de France par auto-questionnaire en ligne de septembre à novembre 2015.Résultats : Le contenu de l’écran n’était pas visible du patient dans 71% des cas. Les 2/3 des médecins préfèreraient une configuration de leur bureau différente. 84% déclaraient utiliser leur écran dans un but éducatif. 70% des médecins estimaient regarder l’écran moins de 30% du temps, les femmes regardant significativement plus leur écran. Le temps consacré à l’écran paraissait trop important pour 23% d’entre eux et plus particulièrement pour les 25-30 ans. L’impact global moyen de l’écran sur la relation était coté +0,603 [±2,350].Discussion : L’écran est bien intégré dans la consultation mais les médecins de notre étude ne semblent pas conscients de toutes les facettes de son impact. Pour diminuer les inconvénients, les principales mesures seraient: un écran mobile, utilisé à but éducatif, une saisie sur clavier aux moments appropriés, le maintien d’un contact visuel avec le patient.