Improving understanding of factors that influence visual perceptual learning and its transfer effects
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2025
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Melbourne Authors
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Optometry and Vision Sciences
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PhD thesis
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Open Access
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© 2025 Chongyue He
Abstract
Perceptual learning refers to the process by which perceptual abilities are enhanced through experience. In this thesis the focus is on visual perceptual learning. Although it is well-established that visual sensitivity can be improved by repetitively practicing relevant tasks, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Learning transfer, which is improved performance on untrained tasks, has been used to infer the locus of perceptual learning in the sensory processing pathways. This thesis explored the mechanisms of visual perceptual learning by assessing change in performance on both trained and untrained tasks after repeatedly performing visual orientation discrimination tasks. Three experiments were conducted.
Experiment 1 compared training outcomes of 4 training paradigms with varied task combinations and task switch frequencies. When two task conditions are trained together, learning may be disrupted or enhanced compared to training a single task, depending on the task combination and switch frequency. Task combination was shown to affect training outcomes, which might be due to the different amount of stimulus exposure or attention required at each visual location between training paradigms.
Experiment 2 investigated the interaction between pre-training performance, perceived stimulus size, and stimulus exposure. Perceived strength of a size illusion has been associated with the distribution of spatial attention. The results suggest that spatial attention and stimulus exposure contribute to perceptual learning independently, and pre-training distribution of attention across visual locations might play an important role in determining learning transfer.
Experiment 3 assessed individual differences between left- and right-handed people on training outcomes to further explore the relationship between attention and perceptual learning. Handedness is a manifestation of hemispheric asymmetry in brain functions, which has been associated with attentional bias between the left and right visual fields. The results suggest that while across hemifield transfer may be different between left- and right-handed participants, it was not associated with attentional bias.
In conclusion, this thesis contributes to a better understanding of the factors that influence visual perceptual learning and its transfer effects. These factors should be considered in designing training paradigms and interpreting the results. The findings of this thesis provided a more complete view on the different components of perceptual learning.
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Visual Perceptual Learning, Learning Transfer, Visual Sensitivity, Psychophysics, Orientation Discrimination, Spatial Attention, Stimulus Exposure, Hemispheric Asymmetry, Size Perception