There was a recent study conducted by Psychologists from the University of Buffalo on the subject of phonics. Phonics refers to the learning method for reading using the sound of words. The study, which was headed by Chris McNorgan, Ph.D, found that phonics plays a significant role in a whole-language method that involves visually memorizing word patterns.
These findings will be useful in diagnosing and treating reading disorders such as dyslexia.
McNorgan, an Assistant Professor of Psychology, states that phonological information is very important, when it comes to identifying words as they are spoken. His study, which was published in Brain & Language, relied on MRI scans to measure the responses of the brain to audio and visual stimuli in the form of words.
The study’s results showed that proficient readers had their visual processing abilities better stimulated by audio information. According to McNorgan, this study can help children learn to read better, apart from treating those affected by reading disorders.
The Brain
The brain is divided into multiple parts and each part has its own set of functions to perform. When reading, it is the VWFA or Visual Word Form Area that is stimulated, when recognizable combinations of letters show up. However, in order to perform as a whole, various areas of the brain need to communicate and coordinate with each other. It is still not clear how the various parts of the brain cooperate with each other when engaging in reading, especially when both, visual and auditory stimuli are present.
The Study Method
The study observed participants aged 8 to 13, who were shown word pairs and asked whether if the words they were shown rhymed with each other. Their brain activity was monitored via an MRI scanner. There were a total of 3 conditions applied.
The participants read the words visually, at first. Then, they were asked to hear the words. Finally, the words were presented to them as audio-visual combinations (the words were shown and read out). The MRI scanner studied the brain activity during these 3 stages and displayed the results in the form of a 3D image.
The researchers, then, collected the data shown by the MRI scans and compared the sum of the first two stages with the third and final stage. It was found that the audio-visual combination triggered higher responses than the previous two stages.
This provides a glimpse into why many video creators choose to have voiceover artists dictate or narrate the word content found within some videos. It simply has a better effect. People find it easier to process words when they are presented with both, visuals of the words and the sounds. In other words, recognizing these words becomes easier with both audio and visual stimuli than with either of them used alone.
The Take Away
Apart from treating reading disorders and improving reading skills, the study also shows us how important it is to have a voiceover artist narrating your video content. It simply makes it easier for people to pay attention and breakdown the information.
ABOUT ROBERTA –
Roberta is a Professional AND award Winning International Voiceover Actor, as well as an accomplished on-camera actress and spokesperson. She lives in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and is the owner of Roberta Kennedy Voice Talent and RK Productions, Inc.
She voices for companies around the world using her state of the art, broadcast quality studio. She’s hired for commercials, web demos and explainer videos, product infomercials, documentaries, promo/imaging, political ads, e-learning videos, podcasts, guided real estate tours, telephony/IVR projects, high profile corporate presentations, video games and character animation.
Her voice is described as: playful, contemporary, compelling, commanding, inviting, sultry and smooth. A hip edge with sophistication, bold, warm, interesting and engaging are also commonly used adjectives to describe her voice.
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To request a personal quote or audition and/or to review more of her credits & demos, feel free to visit her Contact Page – or mail her at roberta@robertakennedy.com. You can even give her a call on (408) 313-7202.