Visual perceptual learning

Perceptual learning refers to the phenomenon that practice or training in perceptual tasks often substantially improves perceptual performance. Often exhibiting stimulus or task specificities, perceptual learning differs from learning in the cognitive or motor domains. Research on perceptual learning reveals important plasticity in adult perceptual systems, and as well as the limitations in the information processing of the human observer. In this article, we review the behavioral results, mechanisms, physiological basis, computational models, and applications of visual perceptual learning.

Research highlights► Perceptual learning has been documented in virtually every visual task. ► Perceptual learning is often specific to stimulus or task factors. ► Perceptual learning primarily reflects reweighting of sensory representations. ► Recent evidence suggests greater plasticity in early visual areas in non-primates. ► Augmented Hebbian reweighting accounts for feedback effects. ► Perceptual learning has become the basis for some visual rehabilitation programs.