Perceptual Learning

by Manfred Fahle and Tomaso Poggio (Eds.)

• ISBN13: 9780262062213
• ISBN10: 0262062216
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: MIT PRESS

Summary

Perceptual learning is the specific and relatively permanent modification of perception and behavior following sensory experience. It encompasses parts of the learning process that are independent from conscious forms of learning and involve structural and/or functional changes in primary sensory cortices. A familiar example is the treatment for a "lazy" or crossed eye. Covering the good eye causes gradual improvement in the weaker eye's cortical representations. If the good eye is patched too long, however, it learns to see less acutely. This book presents advances made in the last decade in this rapidly growing field. The first part examines neuronal changes caused by lesions or external influences. It discusses the effects of these changes on behavior and the extent to which plasticity in sensory systems is possible. Taking a broader view, the second part looks at how more conscious or systemic stimuli cause cortical changes. Clinical trials in which subjects are taught to recognize visual and auditory stimuli demonstrate the relationship between perceptual and cognitive learning. The final sections offer general models of perceptual learning and discuss the future of the field.

Table of Contents

Introduction	ix
I Anatomy and Physiology	1	(144)
Experience-Dependent Plasticity of Intracortical Connections	3	(16)
Siegrid Lowel
Wolf Singer
Adaptation of Inputs in the Somatosensory System	19	(24)
Hubert R. Dinse
Michael M. Merzenich
Plasticity of Receptive Fields in Early Stages of the Adult Visual System	43	(24)
Ulf T. Eysel
Neuronal Representation of Object Images and Effects of Learning	67	(16)
Keiji Tanaka
Electrophysiological Correlates of Perceptual Learning	83	(12)
Aniek Schoups
Perceptual Learning and the Development of Complex Visual Representations in Temporal Cortical Neurons	95	(30)
David L. Sheinberg
Nikos K. Logothetis
Functional Reorganization of Human Cerebral Cortex and Its Perceptual Concomitants	125	(20)
Annette Sterr
Thomas Elbert
Brigitte Rockstroh
II Low-Level Psychophysics	145	(88)
Learning to Understand Speech with the Cochlear Implant	147	(14)
Graeme M. Clark
Adaptation and Learning in the Visual Perception of Gratings	161	(16)
Adriana Fiorentini
Nicoletta Berardi
Plasticity of Low-Level Visual Networks	177	(20)
Barbara Zenger
Dov Sagi
Learning to Perceive Features below the Foveal Photoreceptor Spacing	197	(22)
Manfred Fahle
Specificity versus Invariance of Perceptual Learning: The Example of Position	219	(14)
Marcus Dill
III Higher-Level Psychophysics	233	(102)
The Role of Insight in Perceptual Learning: Evidence from Illusory Contour Perception	235	(18)
Nava Rubin
Ken Nakayama
Robert Shapley
The Role of Attention in Learning Simple Visual Tasks	253	(20)
Merav Ahissar
Shaul Hochstein
High-Level Learning of Early Visual Tasks	273	(26)
Pawan Sinha
Tomaso Poggio
Learning to Recognize Objects	299	(18)
Guy Wallis
Heinrich Bulthoff
Learning New Faces	317	(18)
Vicki Bruce
Mike Burton
IV Modeling	335	(46)
Models of Perceptual Learning	337	(18)
Shimon Edelman
Nathan Intrator
Learning to Find Independent Components in Natural Scenes	355	(12)
Anthony J. Bell
Terrence J. Sejnowski
Top-Down Information and Models of Perceptual Learning	367	(14)
Michael H. Herzog
Manfred Fahle
Glossary	381	(6)
References	387	(56)
Contributors	443	(4)
Index	447