Salience modulation and associative inhibition interaction: Short but not long exposure to similar stimuli protects the salience of the unique elements

▶ The aim of the experiments reported was to assess how different perceptual learning mechanisms-salience modulation and associative inhibition-interact. ▶ The experiments show that relatively short alternated exposure to similar stimuli (AX and BX) protects the unique elements A and B from habituation. ▶ With prolonged exposure, however, the protection of habituation is not observed. ▶ Associative activation of A and B in the alternated BX and AX trials (via the X-A and the X-B associations) protects the salience of the unique features A and B after short preexposure; with further preexposure, however, inhibitory associations between A and B develop, counteracting the associative activation mechanism that protects from habituation. ▶ The results reported support the notion that perceptual learning is a multi-determined phenomenon that depends on salience modulation processes after relatively short preexposure, and on an associative inhibition mechanism after prolonged preexposure.