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Perceptual learning improves efficiency by re-tuning the decision 'template' for position discrimination

Nature Neuroscience volume 7, pages 178–183 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Visual position discrimination improves with practice; however, the mechanism(s) underlying this improvement are not yet known. We used positional noise to explore the underlying neural mechanisms and found that position discrimination improved with practice over a range of noise levels. This improvement can be largely explained by an increasing efficiency with which observers used positional information in the stimulus. In a second experiment, we tested the hypothesis that the improved efficiency reflects a re-tuning of the observers' perceptual 'template'—the weightings of inputs from basic visual mechanisms—to more closely match the ideal template required to perform the perceptual task. Using a new technique to measure which parts of the stimulus influenced the observer's performance, we were able to record the re-tuning of the decision template across training sessions; we found a robust and steady increase in template efficiency during learning.

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Figure 1: Three possible mechanisms for visual learning.
Figure 2: Stimuli with positional noise.
Figure 3: Effect of learning on position discrimination.
Figure 4: Effect of learning on equivalent noise and efficiency.
Figure 5: The changing templates across training sessions.
Figure 6: Template retuning.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by research grants R01EY01728 and R01EY04776 from the National Eye Institute. The authors thank E. Bassett, S. Gepshtein, A. Popple, J. Saarinen, K. Young and E. Wong for their comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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  1. School of Optometry and Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720-2020, California, USA

    Roger W Li, Dennis M Levi & Stanley A Klein

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  1. Roger W Li
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  2. Dennis M Levi
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  3. Stanley A Klein
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Correspondence to Dennis M Levi.

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Li, R., Levi, D. & Klein, S. Perceptual learning improves efficiency by re-tuning the decision 'template' for position discrimination. Nat Neurosci 7, 178–183 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1183

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