Frontal cerebral oxygen response as an indicator of initial attention effort during perceptual learning

Perceptual learning is critical in many settings. In the present study, we investigated the role of individual differences in attention effort in perceptual learning by having participants learn to detect rare cryptic figures. We employed both functional near-infrared spectroscopy measures of frontal cortical activity and self-reports of pre-task motivation in order to assess individual differences in attention effort. We also manipulated performance feedback and the amount of background information provided to the participants regarding the task. Twelve men and 28 women participated in the experiment. Performance metrics were indicative of perceptual learning occurring. Overall performance on the task was correlated significantly with pre-task levels of self-reported motivation and the rate of learning was correlated with initial oxygen response in the frontal cortex. The initial spike in frontal oxygen response declined with time on task, perhaps due to shifts towards automaticity. The results suggest perceptual learning is influenced by individual differences in attention effort.