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Deleterious effects of roving on learned tasks
Aaron M Clarke1, Lukasz Grzeczkowski1, Fred W Mast2
1Laboratory of Psychophysics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.
Vision Research
|January 4, 2014
Summary
Roving, which presents varied stimuli, did not affect initial perceptual learning. However, after training, roving impaired task sensitivity, suggesting its impact emerges post-learning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Perceptual learning enhances task performance with training.
- Stimulus variability, or roving, can negatively impact learning and sensitivity.
- The interplay between roving and perceptual learning requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between stimulus roving and perceptual learning.
- To determine if roving affects initial learning or post-training performance.
Main Methods:
- A bisection task was employed to assess visual perception.
- Participants completed training with interleaved or consistent stimulus types.
- Task sensitivity was measured before and after training under different roving conditions.
Main Results:
- Roving did not influence performance prior to perceptual learning.
- Participants demonstrated significant improvement after training.
- Introducing roving after training led to a decrease in task sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The detrimental effects of roving on task sensitivity manifest after perceptual learning has occurred.
- Roving does not impede the initial acquisition of perceptual skills.
- Task sensitivity is more vulnerable to stimulus variability than initial learning.
