The document discusses the physiological process of reading. It begins with light from printed symbols hitting the retina and inducing chemical changes that create nerve currents. These currents then travel to the mid-brain and cerebral cortex, where the symbols are interpreted. The process involves the eyes fixating on and moving between words using movements like saccades and regressions, recognizing groups of words at a time from left to right or right to left.

1. READING AS A
PHYSIOLOGICAL
PROCESS

2. 1. Reading involves both
an organic or physiological
process and a mental or
cognitive process.
2. In the physiological
process, the most basic
step is for the eyes to
see, identify, and
recognize the printed
word or images.

3. 3. The light patterns from
the printed symbols hit
the fovea areas or closely
packed sensory cells of the
retina.

4. 4. In turn, this induces
chemical changes that
create patterns of
nerve currents into the
optic nerve fiber.

5. 5. Then these currents
travel to a center in the
mid-brain.

6. 6. Finally, using the current
that travel to the mid-
brain, the cerebal cortex
interprets the symbols.

7. 7. The stage of reading
revolves around the
ability to identify and
recognize words which
are the smallest unit
of visual identification
and meaningful
recognition.

8. 8. Studies show eye
movement in reading
with the eye perceiving
and pausing on the
printed material
horizontally from left
to right and top-to-
bottom or right to left

9. 9. Scientific experiments have
also shown that there are
several eye movements:
Fixation – the eyes stopping
or getting fixated on the
word/s.
Inter-fixation – the eyes
moving from stopping point to
the other.
Return sweeps – the eyes
swinging back from the end

10. Saccades – short quick hop
and jump movements done
especially by literate people,
to move ahead on a line of
point.
Regression – done in case
there is need to double
check what is being read.
Span of recognition – the
eyes recognition of a group
of words.