There are competing theories in the literature regarding the extent to which the translation of print to speech involves single or multiple routes. Regardless of the number of routes in a model, all models of reading must account for both sight vocabulary (SV) processing, which specializes in mapping whole-word representations, and phonetic decoding (PD) processing, which specializes in mapping sub-word representations. The purpose of the present work was to examine two hypotheses regarding the relationship between SV and PD: independence versus redundancy. Both behavioural and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) experiments were conducted and the results supported the hypothesis that SV and PD are behaviourally and neurobiologically independent processes. Furthermore, in the interest of advancing all models of basic word recognition, the neurobiological representations of some of the sub-systems within SV and PD routes were explored and the contribution that particular brain regions make to the completion of naming particular stimuli was evaluated. Finally, basic and applied areas of research were integrated to demonstrate how diagnostic stimuli developed from basic reading research can inform us about impaired reading performance following traumatic brain injury.

Ein ausreichendes Lesetempo, eine hohe Lesegenauigkeit und ein entwickeltes Leseverständnis sind in fast allen Schulfächern Voraussetzung für eine erfolgreiche Teilnahme am Unterricht. Internationale Schulleistungsstudien belegen, dass ein hoher Anteil von Schülern bereits in der Grundschule unzureichende Lesekompetenzen aufweist und daher auf zusätzliche Förder- oder Therapiemaßnahmen angewiesen ist. Im Hinblick darauf wurden in einem Gruppen-Prä-Post-Follow-Up-Design mit zweifacher Prä-Messung zwei unterschiedliche Interventionen zur Verbesserung der Lesefähigkeiten bei Zweit- und Drittklässlern evaluiert: Ein modellgeleitetes Therapieverfahren zur Verbesserung der Lesegeschwindigkeit von Wörtern und ein von Eltern durchgeführtes Fördertraining zur Verbesserung der Lesegenauigkeit und Lesegeschwindigkeit von Pseudowörtern. Zur Teilnahme an den Interventionen wurden 58 Zweit- und Drittklässler mit einem gravierenden Leserückstand ausgewählt und entweder dem Therapieprogramm oder dem Fördertraining zugeteilt. Beide Gruppen erhielten über 5 Wochen ein tägliches 45-minütiges Training. Während das Training der Therapiegruppe von einem ausgebildeten Therapeuten durchgeführt wurde und in der Schule stattfand, wurde das Training der Fördergruppe von Eltern zu Hause durchgeführt. Es wurden Veränderungen in der Lesegeschwindigkeit, dem Leseverständnis und verschiedenen Blickbewegungsparametern ausgewertet. / In order to follow the lessons in school, children must be able to read with speed as well as with accuracy and a proven ability to comprehend texts. International school performance studies show that a high proportion of students already have inadequate reading skills in elementary school and therefore need additional support or therapy measures. Based on this observation, an evaluation of two different interventions among second- and third-graders is reported: A pre-post follow-up design with double pre-measurement, aiming at the increase of the students' reading skills. A model-guided therapy method for improving the reading speed of words and a parental training course for the improvement of reading accuracy and reading speed of pseudowords. 58 second- and third-graders with a serious reading backlog were selected to participate in the interventions and were assigned to either the therapy program or the parental training. Both groups received daily 45-minute training over a 5 week period. While the training of the therapy group was held by a therapist and took place at school, the training of the support group was carried out by parents at home. Changes in reading speed, reading comprehension and various eye movement parameters were evaluated.