The Development of Oculomotor Coordination During the School Age Years: Effects of Reading and General Speed of Processing

Precise eye movements are critical for reading and visual search, yet it is unclear which factors influence development. Relations of reading ability, processing speed, and age with oculomotor coordination were examined in 201 Iowa City children aged 7-12 (106 males, 95 females; 176 White, 9 Black, 6 Asian, 9 Other; 11 Hispanic) from 2022-2023. Better reading ability (|β| range = 0.05–0.06) and older age (|β| range = 0.02–0.04) predicted more precise coordination, while slower processing speed (β = 0.06) predicted less precise coordination. Reading ability also moderated sensitivity to visual display effects (|β| range = 0.02–0.03). Results support theories linking reading experience and processing speed to eye-movement development and inform paradigms relying on visual processing in developmental research. Keywords: eye-tracking, development, Visual World Paradigm, reading