Abstract: Developmental dyslexia is a specific disorder in reading acquisition, which hinders the development of individuals. Many researchers focused on how to help the dyslexics to improve their reading skills. Traditional intervention methods are mainly based on phonological deficit of dyslexia, in which there are still some problems required to be solved such as consuming considerable time and labors in intervention implementation, and reading materials putting pressures on dyslexic readers. In recent years, most of the relevant studies have indicated that the intriguing action video game intervention could significantly improve the dyslexics’ reading abilities, but its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Based on the visual magnocellular deficit theory, the possible internal mechanisms regarding the positive influence of playing action video games on reading efficiency could be explained from the aspects of visual spatial attention, cross-sensory attention shifting and visual motor processing. Based on this theory framework, future research could not only examine the internal mechanisms of the effect of action video game training on reading skills, but also develop relevant intervention programs which are more suitable for the dyslexic readers.

Key words: action video game, developmental dyslexia, cross-sensory attention shifting, the visual magnocellular deficit theory