This paper is a summary of research on the perceptual and memory processes related to reading, their developmental progress in children, and the reading abilities in adults. Reported among the results of the various studies are the following: (1) developmental changes in reading after second grade primarily improve speed of coding, (2) reading appears to depend on visual analysis of units at least as large as single words once word decoding skills have been acquired and developed in practice, (3) children appear to develop automatic word recognition processes as they learn to read rather than later as they develop fluency, (4) college students can perform visual search tasks and read single words for some comprehension at presentation rates of up to 1,200 words per minute, and (5) similarities are present in the reading processes of college students and late primary grade children. (AEA)