The reference frame of perceptual learning M Vergeer1, I Szumska, H Ogmen2, M Herzog3 |
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1Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, KU Leuven, Belgium |
| In perceptual learning, perception improves with practice. Perceptual learning is mainly investigated with retinotopic paradigms. Here, we show evidence for perceptual learning within a non-retinotopic frame of reference. During the training phase, we presented three disks. In the center disk, dots moved upwards with a slight tilt to the left or right. Observers indicated the tilt. Performance improved significantly by 33% on average. Before and after training, we determined performance for various "moving conditions". First, three empty disks were presented at the same location as in the training condition. Then, there was an ISI of 100ms and the disks shifted one disk position to the right (i.e., a Ternus-Pikler display), creating the impression of apparent motion. The same motion as in the training condition was presented either in the left disk, which retinotopically overlapped with the training disk, or in the center disk. The center disk overlapped with the training disk in object-centered coordinates but not in retinotopic coordinates. We found that learning transferred most strongly in the latter, non-retinotopic condition. Our results indicate a non-retinotopic, object-centered component to visual perceptual learning. We propose that perceptual learning may best be achieved after spatial invariance is reached. |
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