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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
Published on: January 23, 2017
Exogenous and endogenous attention during perceptual learning differentially affect post-training target thresholds.
Ikuko Mukai1, Kandy Bahadur, Kartik Kesavabhotla
1Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1366, USA. mukaii@mail.nih.gov
Journal of Vision
|February 2, 2011
Summary
Attention enhances perceptual learning, with exogenous and endogenous attention improving accuracy at attended locations. However, only exogenous attention improved contrast thresholds, suggesting distinct neural mechanisms for each attention type.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
- Learning and Memory
Background:
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding attention's role in perceptual learning.
- Understanding the distinct contributions of different attention types is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how exogenous and endogenous attention independently influence perceptual learning.
- To differentiate the effects of attention on accuracy and contrast sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Manipulated exogenous and endogenous attention independently.
- Measured perceptual learning rates for Gabor patches in different visual field quadrants.
- Assessed contrast thresholds before and after training.
Main Results:
- Both attention types improved orientation discrimination accuracy more at attended than unattended locations.
- Only exogenous attention led to enhanced contrast thresholds.
- Learning rates varied across attended, divided-attended, and unattended locations.
Conclusions:
- Both exogenous and endogenous attention facilitate perceptual learning.
- Distinct neural mechanisms likely underlie the effects of exogenous and endogenous attention.
- Attention's influence on perceptual learning is complex and depends on attention type.
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