Perceptual Learning on Orientation and Direction Discrimination
Nestor Matthews, Zili Liu, Bard J. Geesaman, and Ning Qian, Vision Research
1999, 39:3692-3701.
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Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to determine the extent to which
perceptual learning transfers between orientation and direction
discrimination. Naive observers were trained to discriminate
orientation differences between two single-line stimuli, and
direction differences between two single-moving-dot stimuli. In the
first experiment, observers practiced the orientation and direction
tasks along orthogonal axes in the fronto-parallel plane. In the
second experiment, a different group of observers practiced both tasks
along a single axis. Perceptual learning was observed on both tasks
in both experiments. Under the same-axis condition, the observers'
orientation sensitivity was found to be significantly elevated
after the direction training, indicating a transfer of learning from
direction to orientation. There was no evidence of transfer in any
other cases tested. In addition, the rate of learning on the
orientation task was much higher than the rate on the direction
task. The implications of these findings on the neural mechanisms
subserving orientation and direction discrimination are discussed.
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