Distinct Neural Plasticity Enhancing Visual Perception

Taly Kondat, Niv Tik, Haggai Sharon, Ido Tavor, Nitzan Censor*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The developed human brain shows remarkable plasticity following perceptual learning, resulting in improved visual sensitivity. However, such improvements commonly require extensive stimuli exposure. Here we show that efficiently enhancing visual perception with minimal stimuli exposure recruits distinct neural mechanisms relative to standard repetition-based learning. Participants (n = 20, 12 women, 8 men) encoded a visual discrimination task, followed by brief memory reactivations of only five trials each performed on separate days, demonstrating improvements comparable with standard repetition-based learning (n = 20, 12 women, 8 men). Reactivation-induced learning engaged increased bilateral intraparietal sulcus (IPS) activity relative to repetition-based learning. Complementary evidence for differential learning processes was further provided by temporal–parietal resting functional connectivity changes, which correlated with behavioral improvements. The results suggest that efficiently enhancing visual perception with minimal stimuli exposure recruits distinct neural processes, engaging higher-order control and attentional resources while leading to similar perceptual gains. These unique brain mechanisms underlying improved perceptual learning efficiency may have important implications for daily life and in clinical conditions requiring relearning following brain damage.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0301242024
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume44
Issue number36
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Sep 2024

Funding

FundersFunder number
Ariane de Rothschild Women Doctoral Program
European Research CouncilERC-2019-COG 866093

    Keywords

    • fMRI
    • learning and memory
    • memory consolidation
    • neural plasticity
    • perceptual learning
    • visual perception

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