Hi Poker Dad,
Here are some of the notes from my conversations with TwiddleWink aka Right Brain Kids company on PEP
I compiled it:
1) "How does it exactly work?"
There are two different kinds of photo-neuroreceptors in the eye: rods
(black/white) and cones (3 primary colors). The rods are responsible for
depth perception, shading, contrast and definition. The cones are
responsible for perceiving color. The rods and cones work together to
send their visual impulses to the brain to create an instant picture of
the child's surroundings. The stronger the impression, the stronger the
mental picture, and the stronger the child's overall memory and cognition
tends to become.
There are 4 sets of cards: black/white, red/green, violet/yellow, blue/orange
- the black/white sets stimulate and strengthen the rods
- the three complementary colors (red/green, violet/yellow, blue/orange)
sets stimulate and strengthen the cones
Twiddle Wink for instance systematically presents each set, and are able to stimulate each type
within the four lessons in each DVD.
2) "What research has been done to confirm it?"
The importance of infant visual stimulation (exposure to light, color, and
movement) was established in neuroscience circles during the 1970s and
80s.
Here are some research links:
The Institutes For the Achievement of Human Potential: Stages of Sensory
Development
Note: This is an archived page.
http://web.archive.org/web/20050305063610/http://www.iahp.org/developmental_profile/sensory.htmlMcMaster University
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
Vision Development in Infants: Visual field, eye movements, pattern
perception
http://www.psychology.mcmaster.ca/3gg3/8-vision.htmlThe British Psychological Society
"Salience of primary and secondary colours in infancy" : substantiating
color relevancy
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpsoc/bjdp/2008/00000026/00000004/art00002?crawler=trueThe National Academy of Science of the United States of America
Newborns' preference for face-relevant stimuli: Effects of contrast polarity
http://www.pnas.org/content/102/47/17245.abstract3) "I also am curious if there specific rules so to speak on which colors
and combinations of colors/shapes and combinations of shapes to use when
using photoeyeplay. I've seen certain combinations on your videos, what
did you based your decision on using this particular ones? Another
question is whether you would use the same shapes/colors for the whole
duration of the poem/song, or if it is a longer piece, would you change
the set to a new one? When you do that with a song for instance, would you
take into consideration a beat, or when you read the poem do you taej
poetry rhytm into consideration?"
We based our color presentation on exposure to rich primary and secondary
colors. The shapes and style of presentation was designed upon specific
feedback from the children in our classrooms over the years. There is a
lot behind it, but we're a little careful of what we release.
From talking with some Shichida parents, I learned that Shichida also teaches that smth similar to photo eye play can open the right brain pathway and make the fact memorization and retention easier
So of course we do not know everything about it, but those are some of the points. If nothing else, it keep attention and possibly helps with memorization
I am not religious about it, as I have not seen much research, but it does not hurt to use it, where it is pretty easy to implement... Those are just some thoughts.