A motor and cognitive study is being carried out in a number of Central Otago schools during the next few months, and anyone aged from four to 80 can be involved.
The experiment will compare the pattern of reaction times for autistic, dyslexic and normal control subjects.
University of Otago associate professor Liz Franz, who is the director of the Action Brain and Cognition Lab, is working with Danella Smallridge, a teacher at Cromwell Primary School.
Mrs Smallridge received a New Zealand science, mathematics and technology teacher fellowship for 2008 to study dyslexia.
A specially programmed computer has been brought to Central Otago as part of research being conducted by the laboratory.
Dr Franz said the idea was to learn more about the corpus callosum (CC) in dyslexia and autism. The CC is the structure that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres of the brain.
The study has begun at Cromwell College and pupils could choose to participate.
Dr Franz said it was a great chance for pupils to take part in research, something they did not usually get to do until they reached university in most cases.
‘‘Rigorous statistics will be kept to ensure effects are not likely to be due to chance,'' Dr Franz said
Participants are seated in front of a computer screen with response boards that record millisecond accuracy responses. They are required to react as quickly as possible when a dot appears on the screen, using the left hand, right hand or both.
‘‘From our results, we'll get another piece of the puzzle. It might not be world-changing but it might lead to something,'' Mrs Smallridge said.
