Adapting to altered image statistics using processed video

Perceptual systems can be altered by immersing observers in environments with statistical properties that differ from those naturally encountered. Here we present a novel method for placing observers in naturalistic audio visual environments whose statistics can be manipulated in very targeted ways. We present the results of a case study that used this method. Observers were exposed to an environment where there was a novel statistical relationship between two simple, visual patterns in otherwise natural scenes. Exposure to this altered environment strengthened perceptual interactions between the two patterns.