The nature of experience determines object representations in the visual system

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Visual Perception
• Learning Sciences

Background:

• Perceptual learning (PL) and perceptual expertise (PE) studies show distinct training effects and neural correlates.
• The underlying reasons for these differences, particularly the influence of learning history, remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how prior learning history influences visual object representations.
• To determine if experience alone can account for differences in neural learning between PL and PE.

Main Methods:

• Two groups underwent training using tasks characteristic of PL or PE studies.
• Novel objects were used with identical training duration and stimulus presentation (parafoveal).
• Cortical representations were assessed, and effects were analyzed based on testing tasks.

Main Results:

• Qualitatively different changes in cortical object representations were observed after PL and PE training.
• Training effects were modulated by the specific testing tasks employed.
• Experience was sufficient to explain prior differences in the neural locus of learning between PL and PE.

Conclusions:

• The nature of experience with an object's category significantly shapes its representation in the visual system.
• Attentional set interacts with experience, and testing task choice critically influences observed training effects.
• Prior differences in neural learning between PL and PE can be attributed to the type of experience gained.