A Weber-like law for perceptual learning

Astle, Andrew T.; Li, Roger W.; Webb, Ben S.; Levi, Dennis M.; McGraw, Paul V.

Abstract

What determines how much an organism can learn? One possibility is that the neural factors that limit sensory performance prior to learning, place an upper limit on the amount of learning that can take place. We tested this idea by comparing learning on a sensory task where performance is limited by cortical mechanisms, at two retinal eccentricities. Prior to learning, visual performance at the two eccentricities was either unmatched or equated in two different ways (through spatial scaling or visual crowding). The magnitude of learning was equivalent when initial levels of performance were matched regardless of how performance was equated. The magnitude of learning was a constant proportion of initial performance. This Weber-like law for perceptual learning demonstrates that it should be possible to predict the degree of perceptual improvement and the final level of performance that can be achieved via sensory training, regardless of what cortical constraint limits performance.

Citation

Astle, A. T., Li, R. W., Webb, B. S., Levi, D. M., & McGraw, P. V. (2013). A Weber-like law for perceptual learning. Scientific Reports, 3, Article 1158. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01158

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 29, 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 10, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 10, 2014
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Electronic ISSN: 2045-2322
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Article Number: 1158
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01158
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/712770
• Publisher URL: http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130129/srep01158/full/srep01158.html?WT.ec_id=SREP-20130205