Zvia Breznitz, Prof.
Director, Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities; Full Professor, Department of Learning Disabilities
Email: zviab@construct.haifa.ac.il
Research Interests: The neurocognitive basis of learning and learning disabilities research. Specifically, the studies focus on: A. Cognitive process such as attention, sensory (auditory and visual) and working memory processing, speed of information, B. The regular reading process and dyslexia (decoding, fluency and comprehension), C. The effect of intervention program on the ability of the brain to change. In all studies behavioral, electrophysiological, eye-movements and fMRI measures are being used. The target population includes young and adult subjects.
Recent Publications
Books:
Breznitz, Z. (Ed.) (2008). Brain Research in Language. Springer Publishers, New York, NY, USA.
Breznitz, Z. (2006). Reading Fluency: Synchronization of Processes. Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates. Mahwah, NJ, USA.
Articles in Refereed Journals:
Shiran, A. & Breznitz, Z. (in press). The effect of cognitive training on recall range and speed of information processing in the working memory of dyslexic and skilled readers. Journal of Neurolinguistics.
Breznitz, Z. and Fabian, L. (in press). Reading in L1 and L2: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence: a comparison between regular and dyslexic readers. In: Leiken, M., Tobin, Y. & Schwartz, L. (ed). Israel as a natural laboratory for multilingualism.
Horowitz-Kraus, T. & Breznitz, Z. (in press). reaction time and accuracy in erroneous vs. correct responses among dyslexic and regular readers: from letters to sentences. Dyslexia.
Horowitz-Kraus, T. & Breznitz, Z. (in press). Error detection mechanism at words and sentences: a comparison between readers with dyslexia and skilled readers”, International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (IJDDE)
Mayseless, N. & Breznitz, Z. (2011). Brain activity during processing objects and pseudo objects: Comparison between adult regular and dyslexic readers. Clinical Neurophysiology, 122 (2), 284-298
Nevo, E. & Breznitz, Z. (2011) Assessment of Working Memory Components at 6 years age as Predictors of Reading Achievements a year later. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 109, 73–90.
Bitan, T., Lifshitz, A., Breznitz, Z. & Booth, J. (2010). Bidirectional connectivity between hemispheres occurs at multiple levels in language processing, but depends on sex. Journal of Neuroscience, 30(35), 11576-11585.
Hochman, E.Y., Eviatar, Z., Breznitz, Z., Nevat, M., & Shaul, S. (2009). Different laterality patterns of the error-related negativity in corrected and uncorrected errors. Laterality 1, 4(6), 618-34.
Horowitz-Kraus, T., & Breznitz, Z. (2009). Can the error detection mechanism benefit from training the working memory? A comparison between dyslexics and controls – an ERP study. PLoS ONE, 4(9).
Breznitz, Z. (2009). The Origin of Dyslexia: The asynchrony phenomenon. Gavin Reid, Angela Fawcett, Frank Manis & Linda Siegel (eds). The Sage Handbook of Dyslexia. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
Hochman, E. Y., Eviatar, Z., Breznitz, Z., Nevat, M., & Shaul, S. (2009). Source localization of error negativity: Additional source for corrected errors. Neuroreport, 20(13), 1144-1148.
Breznitz, Z. & Lebovitz, L. (2008). Neurobiological Correlates of Dyslexia. Brain Research in Language. Springer Publishing Company. New York, NY, USA.
Horowitz-Kraus, T., & Breznitz, Z. (2008). An error-detection mechanism in reading among dyslexic and regular readers – an ERP study. Clinical Neurophysiology, 119(10), 2238-2246.
Breznitz, Z. (2008). Special issue on the use of electrophysiological measures in reading research. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 21(4), 277-278.
Sela, I., Breznitz, S., & Breznitz, Z. (2008). The correlation-based model: An alternative system for analyzing ERP data in cognitive research. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 21(4), 305-332.
Breznitz, Z. (2008). The Contribution of EEG-ERP Measures to Our Understanding of Brain Asynchrony in Dyslexia. Brain Research in Language. Springer Publishing Company. New York, NY, USA.
Meyler, A., & Breznitz, Z. (2005). Visual, auditory and cross-modal processing of linguistic and nonlinguistic temporal patterns among adult dyslexic readers. Dyslexia, 11(2), 93-115.
Oren, R., & Breznitz, Z. (2005). Reading processes in L1 and L2 among dyslexic as compared to regular bilingual readers: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 18(2 SPEC. ISS.), 127-151.
Karni, A., Morocz, I. A., Bitan, T., Shaul, S., Kushnir, T., & Breznitz, Z. (2005). An fMRI study of the differential effects of word presentation rates (reading acceleration) on dyslexic readers’ brain activity patterns. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 18(2 SPEC. ISS.), 197-219.
Breznitz, Z. (2005). Brain activity during performance of naming tasks: Comparison between dyslexic and regular readers. Scientific Studies of Reading, 9(1), 17-42.
Katzir, T., Shaul, S., Breznitz, Z., & Wolf, M. (2004). The universal and the unique in dyslexia: A cross-linguistic investigation of reading and reading fluency in Hebrew-and English-speaking children with reading disorders. Reading and Writing, 17(7-8), 739-768.
Breznitz, Z., Oren, R., & Shaul, S. (2004). Brain activity of regular and dyslexic readers while reading Hebrew as compared to English sentences. Reading and Writing, 17(7-8), 707-737.
Meyler, A., & Breznitz, Z. (2003). Processing of phonological, orthographic and cross-modal word representations among adult dyslexic and normal readers. Reading and Writing, 16(8), 785-803.
Breznitz, Z., & Berman, L. (2003). The underlying factors of word reading rate. Educational Psychology Review, 15(3), 247-265.
Breznitz, Z., & Misra, M. (2003). Speed of processing of the visual-orthographic and auditory-phonological systems in adult dyslexics: The contribution of “asynchrony” to word recognition deficits. Brain and Language, 85(3), 486-502.
Breznitz, Z., & Meyler, A. (2003). Speed of lower-level auditory and visual processing as a basic factor in dyslexia: Electrophysiological evidence. Brain and Language, 85(2), 166-184.
Birnboim, S., Breznitz, Z., Pratt, H., & Aharon, Y. (2002b). Automatic and controlled verbal-information processing in patients with frontal lobe lesions. Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, 128(1): 29-46.
Birnboim, S., Breznitz, Z., Pratt, H., & Aharon, Y. (2002a). Distractibility after frontal lobe lesions: Behavioral and event-related brain potential evidence. Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, 128(4): 382-407.
Breznitz, Z., & Share, D. (2002). Introduction on timing and phonology. Reading and Writing, 15(1-2): 1-3.
Breznitz, Z. (2002). Asynchrony of visual-orthographic and auditory-phonological word recognition processes: An underlying factor in dyslexia. Reading and Writing, 15(1-2): 15-42.
Leikin, M., & Breznitz, Z. (2001). Effects of accelerated reading rate on syntactic processing of Hebrew sentences among normal readers: Electrophysiological evidence Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, 127(2): 193-211.
Breznitz, Z., & Leiken, M. (2000) Syntactic processing of Hebrew sentences in normal and dyslexic readers: Electrophysiological Evidence. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 161, 359-380.
Breznitz, Z., & Leiken, M. (2000) Effects of accelerated reading rate on processing words’ syntactic functions by normal and dyslexic readers: Event related potentials evidence. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 162(3): 276-296.
Leiken, M. & Breznitz, Z. (1999). Syntactic processing in Hebrew sentences: Electrophysiological aspects. Genetic, Social and General Psychology Monographs, 125(2): 173-191.
Meyler, A., & Breznitz, Z. (1998). Developmental associations between verbal and visual short-term memory and the acquisition of decoding skill. Reading and Writing, 10(6): 519-540.
Barnea, A. & Breznitz, Z. (1998). Phonological and orthographic processing of Hebrew words: Electrophysiological aspects. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 159(4): 492-504.
Breznitz, Z., & Norman, G. (1998). Differences in concentration ability among low- and high-SES Israeli pupils: A follow-up study. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 159(1): 82-93.
Breznitz, Z. (1997a). Enhancing the reading of dyslexics by reading acceleration and auditory masking. Journal of Educational Psychology, 89, 103-113.
Breznitz, Z. (1997b). The effect of accelerated reading rate on memory for text among dyslexic readers. Journal of Educational Psychology, 89, 287-299.
Breznitz, Z. (1997c). Reading Rate Acceleration: Developmental Aspects. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 158, 427-443.
Sarid, M., & Breznitz, Z. (1997). Developmental aspects of attention span among 2-6 year-old children. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 21, 303-312.
