Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior
Published on: April 16, 2014
Perceptual learning of apparent motion mediated through ON- and OFF-pathways in human vision
1Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Kybernetik, Spemannstrasse 38, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. wehrhahn@tucbingen.mpg.de
Abstract:
We document the performance of 26 human observers practicing a motion discrimination task in foveal vision. Two blocks of 1960 apparent motion stimuli each were presented in succession. Stimuli in the two blocks were tailored to activate either the ON-pathway (ON-stimulus) or the OFF-pathway (OFF-stimulus). Initial performance of about half of the subjects was rather weak but improved with practice. Initial performance of the other subjects remained unaffected for the first block. Once performance had improved in one of the tasks it transferred to the other tasks. Improvement in performance to the ON-stimulus was found to extend over many more presentation than that to the OFF-stimulus.
Related Concept Videos
Vision
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
Indirect Motor Pathways
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
Depth Perception and Spatial Vision
Visual System
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Parallel Processing

