The effect of initial performance on motion perception improvements is modulated by training method

Abstract

Repeated practice of a perceptual task, termed "perceptual learning," can improve visual performance. Previously, the training thresholds were determined in two ways. One is that the stimulus corresponding to a certain level in individually set psychometric functions was selected as the training threshold. The other is that the certain stimulus was selected as the training threshold without consideration of individual differences. However, little is known about how the two training methods modulate perceptual learning. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of initial performance on patterns of motion perceptual learning under two methodsindividually set or group averaged-for setting the training threshold. Thirty-six observers were randomly divided into individual and group thresholds. Psychometric functions, with the percentage correct as a function of coherence, were measured using the coherent motion direction identification task. For the individual threshold, each observer was trained at individualized coherence level, targeting 60% correct for each observer's psychometric function. For the group threshold, each observer was trained at one coherence level, targeting 60% correct in the group-averaged psychometric function. The threshold was reduced after training with the method of constant stimulus in both groups, indicating improvements following perceptual learning. Furthermore, observers with a poorer initial performance exhibited greater learning gains independent of the training method. Importantly, the correlation between the initial performance and learning gains was larger in the individual threshold than in the group threshold, suggesting the influence of the initial performance on the learning amount depends on the training method.

Mechanisms Underlying Directional Motion Processing and Form-Motion Integration Assessed with Visual Perceptual Learning

“…After persistent practice on the same activity, VPL refers to a considerably increased performance in a visual task [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. After a series of training sessions, VPL generates long-lasting perceptual gains [28,29,[31][32][33][34][35].…”

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the left middle temporal complex does not affect visual motion perception learning

“…Visual perceptual learning (VPL) refers to training-induced improvements in human visual perceptual abilities, ranging from simple visual feature discrimination to complex object recognition ( Dosher and Lu, 2017 ; Zhang et al, 2018 ; Wu et al, 2021a ). VPL can be considered a manifestation of brain plasticity; thus, investigating its neural mechanisms will improve understanding of the neural plasticity of the adult brain ( Kawato et al, 2014 ).…”