Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks
Abstract Perceptual learning, known to improve visual perception, demonstrates the plasticity of brain processes underlying vision. Early studies, using the backward-masked texture discrimination task (TDT), focused on the lack of generalizing learning to stimulus features, relating learning specifi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75710-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850181421491027968 |
|---|---|
| author | Ravit Kahalani-Hodedany Maria Lev Dov Sagi Uri Polat |
| author_facet | Ravit Kahalani-Hodedany Maria Lev Dov Sagi Uri Polat |
| author_sort | Ravit Kahalani-Hodedany |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Perceptual learning, known to improve visual perception, demonstrates the plasticity of brain processes underlying vision. Early studies, using the backward-masked texture discrimination task (TDT), focused on the lack of generalizing learning to stimulus features, relating learning specificity to the selectivity of the brain networks involved in the visual task. Learning was found to be highly specific to the stimulus features, as expected from the processing selectivity found in early visual areas as well as to the task employed in training, pointing to top-down effects. More recent studies demonstrate the generalization of learning to untrained features under specifically designed training procedures. Here we suggest that transfer of learning takes place when the trained and untrained stimuli and task activate overlapping brain processes. We tested the effect of TDT learning, under conditions with and without visual adaptation, on the contrast detection (CD) of localized Gabor targets, either alone or backward masked (BM). At the TDT peripheral-target location, we found that the transfer of learning between TDT to CD and BM occurs under the TDT adaptation condition, but not under the no-adaptation condition, whereas at the TDT center-target location we found that transfer occurs for both conditions. Our results suggest that learning generalization across experimental conditions depends on overlapping neural processes within brain networks, here dominated by the inhibitory effects involved in adaptation and in spatiotemporal masking. Importantly, increased adaptation during training, due to increased stimulus consistency, enabled the transfer of learning to other tasks limited by sensory adaptation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a985d8e3a3574306865b4cf2ea18e781 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a985d8e3a3574306865b4cf2ea18e7812025-08-20T02:17:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-10-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-75710-9Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasksRavit Kahalani-Hodedany0Maria Lev1Dov Sagi2Uri Polat3School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversitySchool of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University Department of Brain Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of ScienceSchool of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan UniversityAbstract Perceptual learning, known to improve visual perception, demonstrates the plasticity of brain processes underlying vision. Early studies, using the backward-masked texture discrimination task (TDT), focused on the lack of generalizing learning to stimulus features, relating learning specificity to the selectivity of the brain networks involved in the visual task. Learning was found to be highly specific to the stimulus features, as expected from the processing selectivity found in early visual areas as well as to the task employed in training, pointing to top-down effects. More recent studies demonstrate the generalization of learning to untrained features under specifically designed training procedures. Here we suggest that transfer of learning takes place when the trained and untrained stimuli and task activate overlapping brain processes. We tested the effect of TDT learning, under conditions with and without visual adaptation, on the contrast detection (CD) of localized Gabor targets, either alone or backward masked (BM). At the TDT peripheral-target location, we found that the transfer of learning between TDT to CD and BM occurs under the TDT adaptation condition, but not under the no-adaptation condition, whereas at the TDT center-target location we found that transfer occurs for both conditions. Our results suggest that learning generalization across experimental conditions depends on overlapping neural processes within brain networks, here dominated by the inhibitory effects involved in adaptation and in spatiotemporal masking. Importantly, increased adaptation during training, due to increased stimulus consistency, enabled the transfer of learning to other tasks limited by sensory adaptation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75710-9Perceptual learningTexture discriminationTDTBackward maskingContrast detectionCollinear facilitation |
| spellingShingle | Ravit Kahalani-Hodedany Maria Lev Dov Sagi Uri Polat Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks Scientific Reports Perceptual learning Texture discrimination TDT Backward masking Contrast detection Collinear facilitation |
| title | Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks |
| title_full | Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks |
| title_fullStr | Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks |
| title_short | Generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks |
| title_sort | generalization in perceptual learning across stimuli and tasks |
| topic | Perceptual learning Texture discrimination TDT Backward masking Contrast detection Collinear facilitation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75710-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ravitkahalanihodedany generalizationinperceptuallearningacrossstimuliandtasks AT marialev generalizationinperceptuallearningacrossstimuliandtasks AT dovsagi generalizationinperceptuallearningacrossstimuliandtasks AT uripolat generalizationinperceptuallearningacrossstimuliandtasks |