Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach

<b>Background:</b> Visual perceptual learning plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of how the human brain integrates visual cues to construct coherent perceptual experiences. The visual system is continually challenged to integrate a multitude of visual cues, including form...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rita Donato, Adriano Contillo, Gianluca Campana, Marco Roccato, Óscar F. Gonçalves, Andrea Pavan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Brain Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/10/997
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850205443895328768
author Rita Donato
Adriano Contillo
Gianluca Campana
Marco Roccato
Óscar F. Gonçalves
Andrea Pavan
author_facet Rita Donato
Adriano Contillo
Gianluca Campana
Marco Roccato
Óscar F. Gonçalves
Andrea Pavan
author_sort Rita Donato
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Visual perceptual learning plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of how the human brain integrates visual cues to construct coherent perceptual experiences. The visual system is continually challenged to integrate a multitude of visual cues, including form and motion, to create a unified representation of the surrounding visual scene. This process involves both the processing of local signals and their integration into a coherent global percept. Over the past several decades, researchers have explored the mechanisms underlying this integration, focusing on concepts such as internal noise and sampling efficiency, which pertain to local and global processing, respectively. <b>Objectives and Methods:</b> In this study, we investigated the influence of visual perceptual learning on non-directional motion processing using dynamic Glass patterns (GPs) and modified Random-Dot Kinematograms (mRDKs). We also explored the mechanisms of learning transfer to different stimuli and tasks. Specifically, we aimed to assess whether visual perceptual learning based on illusory directional motion, triggered by form and motion cues (dynamic GPs), transfers to stimuli that elicit comparable illusory motion, such as mRDKs. Additionally, we examined whether training on form and motion coherence thresholds improves internal noise filtering and sampling efficiency. <b>Results:</b> Our results revealed significant learning effects on the trained task, enhancing the perception of dynamic GPs. Furthermore, there was a substantial learning transfer to the non-trained stimulus (mRDKs) and partial transfer to a different task. The data also showed differences in coherence thresholds between dynamic GPs and mRDKs, with GPs showing lower coherence thresholds than mRDKs. Finally, an interaction between visual stimulus type and session for sampling efficiency revealed that the effect of training session on participants’ performance varied depending on the type of visual stimulus, with dynamic GPs being influenced differently than mRDKs. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings highlight the complexity of perceptual learning and suggest that the transfer of learning effects may be influenced by the specific characteristics of both the training stimuli and tasks, providing valuable insights for future research in visual processing.
format Article
id doaj-art-10721c3c8fa34b11a841e21d87a46eb4
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-3425
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Brain Sciences
spelling doaj-art-10721c3c8fa34b11a841e21d87a46eb42025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-09-01141099710.3390/brainsci14100997Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise ApproachRita Donato0Adriano Contillo1Gianluca Campana2Marco Roccato3Óscar F. Gonçalves4Andrea Pavan5Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, ItalyElettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., 34149 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, ItalyBrainloop Laboratory, CINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Universidade Portucalense Infante D. Henrique, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy<b>Background:</b> Visual perceptual learning plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of how the human brain integrates visual cues to construct coherent perceptual experiences. The visual system is continually challenged to integrate a multitude of visual cues, including form and motion, to create a unified representation of the surrounding visual scene. This process involves both the processing of local signals and their integration into a coherent global percept. Over the past several decades, researchers have explored the mechanisms underlying this integration, focusing on concepts such as internal noise and sampling efficiency, which pertain to local and global processing, respectively. <b>Objectives and Methods:</b> In this study, we investigated the influence of visual perceptual learning on non-directional motion processing using dynamic Glass patterns (GPs) and modified Random-Dot Kinematograms (mRDKs). We also explored the mechanisms of learning transfer to different stimuli and tasks. Specifically, we aimed to assess whether visual perceptual learning based on illusory directional motion, triggered by form and motion cues (dynamic GPs), transfers to stimuli that elicit comparable illusory motion, such as mRDKs. Additionally, we examined whether training on form and motion coherence thresholds improves internal noise filtering and sampling efficiency. <b>Results:</b> Our results revealed significant learning effects on the trained task, enhancing the perception of dynamic GPs. Furthermore, there was a substantial learning transfer to the non-trained stimulus (mRDKs) and partial transfer to a different task. The data also showed differences in coherence thresholds between dynamic GPs and mRDKs, with GPs showing lower coherence thresholds than mRDKs. Finally, an interaction between visual stimulus type and session for sampling efficiency revealed that the effect of training session on participants’ performance varied depending on the type of visual stimulus, with dynamic GPs being influenced differently than mRDKs. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings highlight the complexity of perceptual learning and suggest that the transfer of learning effects may be influenced by the specific characteristics of both the training stimuli and tasks, providing valuable insights for future research in visual processing.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/10/997visual perceptual learningequivalent noise analysissampling efficiencyinternal noiseglass patternsmodified random-dot kinematograms
spellingShingle Rita Donato
Adriano Contillo
Gianluca Campana
Marco Roccato
Óscar F. Gonçalves
Andrea Pavan
Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach
Brain Sciences
visual perceptual learning
equivalent noise analysis
sampling efficiency
internal noise
glass patterns
modified random-dot kinematograms
title Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach
title_full Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach
title_fullStr Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach
title_full_unstemmed Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach
title_short Visual Perceptual Learning of Form–Motion Integration: Exploring the Involved Mechanisms with Transfer Effects and the Equivalent Noise Approach
title_sort visual perceptual learning of form motion integration exploring the involved mechanisms with transfer effects and the equivalent noise approach
topic visual perceptual learning
equivalent noise analysis
sampling efficiency
internal noise
glass patterns
modified random-dot kinematograms
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/10/997
work_keys_str_mv AT ritadonato visualperceptuallearningofformmotionintegrationexploringtheinvolvedmechanismswithtransfereffectsandtheequivalentnoiseapproach
AT adrianocontillo visualperceptuallearningofformmotionintegrationexploringtheinvolvedmechanismswithtransfereffectsandtheequivalentnoiseapproach
AT gianlucacampana visualperceptuallearningofformmotionintegrationexploringtheinvolvedmechanismswithtransfereffectsandtheequivalentnoiseapproach
AT marcoroccato visualperceptuallearningofformmotionintegrationexploringtheinvolvedmechanismswithtransfereffectsandtheequivalentnoiseapproach
AT oscarfgoncalves visualperceptuallearningofformmotionintegrationexploringtheinvolvedmechanismswithtransfereffectsandtheequivalentnoiseapproach
AT andreapavan visualperceptuallearningofformmotionintegrationexploringtheinvolvedmechanismswithtransfereffectsandtheequivalentnoiseapproach