Reading is both a physiological and cognitive process. Physiologically, light from printed words hits the retina and induces chemical changes that create nerve currents to the optic nerve and brain. The brain then interprets the symbols. During reading, the eyes make various movements including fixations where they pause on words, saccades to quickly move ahead, and regressions to check back. As reading ability increases, the span of recognition widens and fixations decrease, allowing for faster reading comprehension of ideas rather than individual words.

1. Reading as a
Physiological
Process
Lovebella C.
Jao
Discussant

2. Physiology
 It is the science dealing with the functions and
vital processes of living organisms.
Physiological Processes
 The functions of living organisms and their
parts, and the physical and chemical factors
and processes involved.

3. Let’s learn facts
Reading involves both an organic or
physiological process and a mental or
cognitive processes. Some reading experts
simply refer to this process as being neuro-
physiological in nature.

4. Let’s learn facts
Eyes see,
identify and
recognize the
printed word or
the images.
Light patterns
from the
printed
symbols hit the
foveal areas or
closely packed
sensory cells of
the retina.
Chemical
change is
induced that
create patterns
of the nerve
currents into
the optic nerve
fiber.
Currents travel to
the center of the
mid-brain.
Using the currents, the
cerebral cortex
interprets the symbols.

5. Eye movements

6. Eye movements
Fixation
Eyes stopping or
getting fixated on
the word or words.
The duration of
fixation is the length
of time the eyes has
to pause.
Inter-fixation
Eyes
moving
from
stopping
point to the
other.
ReturnSweeps
Eyes
swinging
back from
the end line
to the
beginning
of the next
line.
Saccades
Short quick
hop and jump
movements
done especially
by literate
people to move
ahead on a line
of print.
Regressions
Backward
right-to-left
movement in
case there is a
need to
double check
what is being
read.

7. Eye movements
Spanof Recognition
- the eyes’ recognition of a group of
words
~ As the span widens, fixation decrease
resulting increased speed in reading.

8. To reflect, one reads
ideas not words. The
habit of reading decreases
the work of word
deciphering, resulting in
an ease in perceiving
meaning, relationship and
messages of the printed
material.