Decoding Reveals Plasticity in V3A as a Result of Motion Perceptual Learning

Satoru Suzuki,Kazuhisa Shibata,Takeo Watanabe,Yukiyasu Kamitani,Dongho Kim,José E Náñez,Yuka Sasaki,Li-Hung Chang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044003

Abstract

Visual perceptual learning (VPL) is defined as visual performance improvement after visual experiences. VPL is often highly specific for a visual feature presented during training. Such specificity is observed in behavioral tuning function changes with the highest improvement centered on the trained feature and was originally thought to be evidence for changes in the early visual system associated with VPL. However, results of neurophysiological studies have been highly controversial concerning whether the plasticity underlying VPL occurs within the visual cortex. The controversy may be partially due to the lack of observation of neural tuning function changes in multiple visual areas in association with VPL. Here using human subjects we systematically compared behavioral tuning function changes after global motion detection training with decoded tuning function changes for 8 visual areas using pattern classification analysis on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals. We found that the behavioral tuning function changes were extremely highly correlated to decoded tuning function changes only in V3A, which is known to be highly responsive to global motion with human subjects. We conclude that VPL of a global motion detection task involves plasticity in a specific visual cortical area.

Highlights

Adults can show significant improvements after training on various visual tasks, and such training effects are called visual perceptual learning (VPL) [1]
Recent single-unit recording and neuroimaging studies suggest that VPL does not involve changes in sensory tuning function of visual areas [14], but rather reflects changes in the process to read out sensory representation by decision-related cortical area such as lateral intraperietal area (LIP) [15] and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) [16]
We systematically explored over the visual cortex to determine the visual area in which activation can explain behavioral performance enhancement in association with VPL of a global motion detection task by comparing the decoded tuning improvement functions of 8 visual areas with the behavioral tuning improvement function

Summary

Introduction

Adults can show significant improvements after training on various visual tasks, and such training effects are called visual perceptual learning (VPL) [1]. It has been found VPL is often specific for a visual feature trained or presented in training. Recent single-unit recording and neuroimaging studies suggest that VPL does not involve changes in sensory tuning function of visual areas [14], but rather reflects changes in the process to read out sensory representation by decision-related cortical area such as lateral intraperietal area (LIP) [15] and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) [16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion