Levels of perceptual learning as reflected by eye movements N Szelényi, P Gervan |
|---|
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Hungary
|
| At what neuronal level does perceptual learning take place? There seems to be evidence for the involvement of both low- and high-level mechanisms; however, it is not known how these mechanisms are involved at the different stages of learning. We addressed this issue by combining eye-tracking and psychophysical techniques while subjects were practicing a contour integration task [Gervan et al., 2011, PlosOne, 6(9), 255725, 1-9]. 18 adult subjects completed the 5-day-long training. Psychophysical thresholds were estimated on each consecutive day, while eye movements were registered on Day1 and Day5. Behavioral data show perceptual learning by Day5. There were also significant changes in eye movement pattern by the end of training. The most intriguing eye movement changes occurred in the psychophysically also most relevant range: at those difficulty levels that were below and just above the psychophysically measured threshold (75% correct). As a result of learning, the number of fixations decreased at the difficulty level just above threshold, while pupil dilatation remained the same. At the difficulty level below threshold, the number of fixations increased as well as pupil dilatation. We interpret this pattern of results as clear indication for different neuronal mechanisms being involved at the different stages of learning. |
| Up Home |
|---|