Sleep does not aid the generalisation of binocular disparity-based learning to the other visual hemifield.

Jens G Klinzing,Karsten Rauss,Hendrikje Nienborg

doi:10.1111/jsr.13335

Jens G Klinzing, Karsten Rauss + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13335

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Abstract

Visual perceptual learning refers to long-lasting performance improvements on a visual skill - an ability supported by plastic changes in early visual brain areas. Visual perceptual learning has been shown to be induced by training and to benefit from consolidation during sleep, presumably via the reactivation of learning-associated neuronal firing patterns. However, previous studies have almost exclusively relied on a single paradigm, the texture discrimination task, on which performance improvements may rely on higher-order rather than lower-level perceptual skills. In the present study, we tested whether sleep has beneficial effects on a visual disparity discrimination task. We confirm previous findings in showing that the ability to discriminate different disparities is unaffected by sleep during a 12-hr retention period after training. Importantly, we extend these results by providing evidence against an effect of sleep on the generalisation of improved disparity discrimination across the vertical meridian. By relying on a between-subject design, we further exclude carry-over effects as a possible confound present in previous findings. These data argue against sleep as an important factor in the consolidation of a low-level perceptual skill. This sets important constraints on models of the role of sleep and sleep-associated neural reactivation in the consolidation of non-declarative memories.

Highlights

In biological memory systems, recently acquired information is often susceptible to loss and distortion
Visual perceptual learning refers to long-lasting performance improvements on a visual skill, an ability presumably supported by plastic changes in early visual brain areas
Previous studies have almost exclusively relied on a single paradigm, the texture discrimination task, on which performance improvements may not rely on strictly perceptual skills

Summary

Introduction

Recently acquired information is often susceptible to loss and distortion. Improvements on this task tend to be confined to the trained eye or specific regions of the visual field This suggests that visual learning is supported by synaptic changes in early stages of visual processing, where information is still retinotopically organized[4]. This notion is supported by higher Blood-oxygenlevel-dependent imaging responses in the visual cortex to the TDT when stimuli were presented to the trained compared to the untrained eye[5]. Other studies show an essential role of the thalamus in consolidating plastic changes in the visual cortex[15,16] Together these findings suggest newly acquired visual skills may benefit from sleep via interactions of the visual system with higher-order areas during sleep

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