Perceptual learning: psychophysical thresholds and electrical brain topography

International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
Wolfgang SkrandiesM Fahle

Abstract

We studied perceptual learning by determining psychophysical discrimination thresholds for visual hyper acuity targets (vernier stimuli) as a function of stimulus orientation. One aim was to relate perceptual improvements to changes of electrophysiological activity of the human brain. A group of 43 healthy adults participated in a psychophysical experiment where vernier thresholds for vertical and horizontal vernier targets were compared. In 16 subjects thresholds were measured for each orientation twice at an interval of 25 min. Between threshold estimations, evoked brain activity was recorded from 30 electrodes over the occipital brain areas while the subjects observed appearance and disappearance of supra-threshold vernier offsets. Mean evoked potentials were computed for the first and second 600 stimulus presentations, and the scalp topography of electrical brain activity was analyzed. Vertically oriented stimuli yielded significantly better performance than horizontal targets, and thresholds were significantly lower in the second half of the experiment, i.e. after prolonged viewing of stimuli. The improvements in discrimination performance were specific for stimulus orientation and did not generalize. Learning effects were...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 17, 2003·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·Karen S ReinkeClaude Alain
Nov 4, 2008·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Manfred Fahle
Apr 1, 2004·Learning & Memory·Julie Marie GottseligPeter Achermann
Nov 12, 2010·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Min BaoStephen A Engel
Oct 12, 2010·Advances in Cognitive Psychology·A K M Rezaul Karim, Haruyuki Kojima
Dec 9, 2009·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·You WangYulong Ding
Dec 10, 2009·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Yan SongYulong Ding
Dec 18, 2007·Vision Research·Gilles PourtoisSophie Schwartz
Aug 9, 2007·Brain Research Bulletin·Claudio Del PercioFabrizio Eusebi
Dec 17, 2005·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Hiroaki Shoji, Wolfgang Skrandies
Jun 20, 2018·Perception·Di ZhangJean-Louis De Bougrenet de la Tocnaye
Mar 5, 2017·Brain Topography·Wolfgang Skrandies, Haruo Shinoda
Jul 7, 2017·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·Daniel D KuryloSteven M Silverstein

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