Currently a PhD student in Psychology at Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, February 2004.

Curriculum Vitae

Supervisory Panel:

Dr Elinor McKone

Dr Mark Edwards

Dr Cobie Brinkman

Thesis Title :

The overall aim of my PhD research is to develop a comprehensive attentional profile for multiple cases of adults with dyslexia, in an effort to discover if there is a common underlying attentional deficit which may account for their phonological and therefore reading, difficulties.

Deficits in sensory processing of visual and auditory stimuli, specifically that associated with the magnocellular/dorsal pathways, have been extensively reported in individuals with dyslexia (McArthur & Bishop 2001; Stein 2001). Significant relationships have been reported between reading ability and performance on sensory processing tasks, both in the auditory and the visual modalities (Cestnick & Coltheart 1999; Cestnick & Jerger 2000; Olson & Datta 2002; Talcott 2002). However, a central role for phonological difficulties in reading difficulties independent of visual and auditory processing deficits has been demonstrated (Ramus et al., 2003). The inconsistent results may be explained by individual differences in attentional processes (Marshall, Snowling et al. 2001; Olson & Datta 2002).

Adults and children with developmental dyslexia have shown impairment on a number of attentionally demanding tasks such as spatial cueing tasks (Brannan & Williams, 1987; Ruddock, 1991; Valdois et al., 1995) and visual conjunction search tasks (Ruddock 1998; Iles, & Walsh, 2000; Heiervang & Hugdahl 2003; Buchholz & McKone 2004; Buchholz, 1999 Honours thesis). Furthermore, the level of impairment has been shown to be related to the degree of reading impairment shown (e.g., Brannan & Williams, 1987; Buchholz & McKone, 2004; Vidysagar & Pammer, 1999). Evidence has further indicated an asymmetry of attentional distribution between the two visual fields for individuals with dyslexia, reflecting an impairment in right parietal function.(Facoetti & Molteni, 2001: Fowler, Riddell & Stein, 1990; Hari, Renvall & Tanskanen, 2001).

While many studies have been carried out investigating attentional difficulties experienced by children with dyslexia, relatively few have examined these difficulties in adults with dyslexia. Furthermore, the relationship of these difficulties to the phonological deficits most often seen has yet to be fully explored. By determining the difficulties experienced by individuals with dyslexia, it may be possible to develop strategies to overcome them.

Journal Articles Cherbuin, N. & Buchholz, J. (submitted) Literacy is related to speed of interhemispheric transfer and attention: a dyslexia study. Abstract Buchholz, J. & Aimola Davies, A. (submitted) Adults with dyslexia demonstrate orienting deficits specific to limitations in attentional focus. Abstract Buchholz, J. & Aimola Davies, A. (2007) Attentional Blink deficits shown in Dyslexia depend on task demands. Vision Research, doi:10.1016/j.visres.2006.11.028. Abstract Buchholz, J. & Aimola Davies, A. (2006) Do visual attentional factors contribute to phonological ability? Studies in adult dyslexia. Neurocase, 12, 111 - 121. Abstract Buchholz, J. & Aimola Davies, A. (2005). Adults with Dyslexia demonstrate space-based and object-based covert attention deficits: shifting attention to the periphery and shifting attention between objects in the left visual field. Brain and Cognition, 57, 30-34. Paper Buchholz, J. & McKone, E. (2004). Adults with dyslexia show deficits on spatial frequency and visual attention tasks.Dyslexia, 10, 24 - 43. Paper Buchholz, J. (2000) Impaired visual search in dyslexia: evidence for a deficit in the neural mechanism of attention. Summary For details see Honours Thesis

Book Chapters Buchholz, J. A. (Submitted). Interpreting a Learning Disability Assessment report. In Jan Robbins (Editor).TBA. Buchholz, J. & Aimola Davies, A. (Submitted). Attentional processes in adults with dyslexia. Abstract

Conference Presentations, Colloquia, and Other Presentations Buchholz, J. A. & Aimola Davies, A. An attentional orienting deficit in adults with dyslexia. Paper presentation at INS Conference, Bilbao, Spain, Scheduled July 2007. Abstract Buchholz, J. A. & Aimola Davies, A. An investigation of task constraints on attentional orienting in adults with dyslexia. Poster presentation at EPC Conference, Canberra, Austalia, April 13 - 15, 2007. Abstract and Poster. Buchholz, J. A. & Aimola Davies, A. Adults with dyslexia demonstrate specific orienting deficits on the Attentional Network Test. Poster presentation at CNS Conference, San Francisco, USA, 9th April, 2006. Abstract and Poster. Buchholz, J. A. Covert and Overt Attentional Processing: Studies in Adult Dyslexia Colloquium given at the Department of Psychology, Australian National University, October, 2004. Buchholz, J. A. & Aimola Davies, A. Adults with dyslexia demonstrate space-based and object-based covert attention deficits. Poster presentation at TENNET XV, Montreal, Canada, June 24 - 26, 2004. Poster Buchholz, J. A. Developmental dyslexia: Could there be a visual attention deficit. Presentation at Primary School Counsellor conference, Canberra, Australia, April, 2002. Presentation Buchholz, J. A. Adults with dyslexia show deficits on spatial frequency and visual attention tasks. Colloquium given at the Department of Psychology, Australian National University, September, 2001.