Visual Associative Learning Research Articles

Interhemispheric transfer of visual pair association learning in the monkey

Interhemispheric transfer of visual pair association learning in the monkey

Inferotemporal-frontal Disconnection: The Uncinate Fascicle and Visual Associative Learning in Monkeys.

We report a series of six experiments in which we examined the behavioural effects of disconnecting the inferior temporal cortex from the prefrontal cortex in cynomolgus monkeys by sectioning the direct cortico-cortical pathway between them, the uncinate fascicle. In experiment 1, monkeys with bilateral section of the uncinate fascicle showed a marked deficit in learning visuomotor conditional problems. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated that this deficit was not the result of a mild motor impairment, nor of a visual discrimination impairment. However, experiment 4 showed that the impairment extended to visual - visual conditional learning. In contrast, following bilateral section of the uncinate fascicle monkeys were unimpaired at two other tasks of visual associative learning: a reward - visual associative task (experiment 5), in which the presence or absence of a food reward served as a cue to the correct choice between two visual stimuli, and a time - visual associative task (experiment 6), in which the cue to the correct choice was the length of the intertrial interval. Thus, animals with uncinate fascicle section showed no impairment in learning to choose between visual stimuli based on their differential association with food reward or other non-visual cues, but were unable to learn to choose between visual stimuli based on their differential association with another visual stimulus. They were equally unable to choose between two motor responses on the basis of the visual cue.

Effects of inferior temporal lesions on discrimination of stimuli differing in orientation

Monkeys with inferior temporal (IT) cortex lesions were compared with normal and operated control monkeys on a series of two-choice visual discrimination problems. In some problems, the discriminanda were different patterns or objects whereas, in other problems, the discriminanda were identical patterns or objects presented in different orientations. The animals with IT lesions were significantly impaired in learning to discriminate the different patterns and objects; however, they were not impaired in learning to discriminate stimuli which differed only in orientation by 60 degrees or more. These results help to specify further the role of the IT cortex in visual associative learning by demonstrating that there are some types of visual discriminations which are not sensitive to IT lesions.

Comparative neuropsychology and Korsakoff's syndrome. II—Two-choice visual discrimination learning

Performance by 12 alcoholic Korsakoff patients was compared to that of 15 patients with Huntington's disease, 11 patients with Broca's aphasia, and 13 alcoholic control subjects on two types of two-choice visual discrimination problems which, in brain-damaged monkeys, successfully dissociate deficits of visual perception from those of visual associative learning. Korsakoff and Huntington patients were slow to learn individual discriminations, but eventually performed well on them. Both groups were severely, but differently, impaired on concurrent discrimination tasks in which several pairs of stimuli are presented together within each testing session. It is suggested that the Korsakoffs have a severe deficit of associative learning combined with abnormal sensitivity to interference, whereas the Huntingtons are impaired primarily in visually-based associative learning. Deficits in Korsakoff patients are related to their widespread brain damage which includes limbic-system structures and pre-frontal cortex. Huntington deficits are related to atrophy of frontal and temporal cortex, perhaps consequent to atrophy of the caudate.

The effect of regular exercise on cognitive functioning and personality.

The effect of regular exercise on cognitive functioning and personality was investigated in 32 subjects representing 4 discrete groups based on sex and age. Before and after a 10 week exercise programme of jogging, calisthenics, and recreational activities, a test battery was administered to assess functioning in a number of domains: intelligence (WAIS Digit Symbol and Block Design); brain function (Trail-Making); speed of performance (Crossing-Off); memory and learning (WMS Visual Reproduction and Associate Learning); morale and life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction and Control Ratings); anxiety (MAACL); and depression (MAACL). Improvement was observed on several physiological parameters. ANOVA revealed significant sex and age differences on Digit Symbol and Block Design and age differences on Trail-Making, Crossing-Off, Associate Learning, and anxiety. Regardless of sex and age, significant improvement in performance was observed from pre to post-test on Digit Symbol, Block Design, Trail-Making, Crossing-Off, and on Associate Learning. In addition, an increase on health status rating (p less than .01) and decrease in anxiety were observed from pre to post-test. These data illustrate beneficial effects of exercise on certain measures of cognitive functioning and personality.

Visual Thinking and Associative Learning

(1974). Visual Thinking and Associative Learning. Art Education: Vol. 27, No. 8, pp. 30-32.

Effect of incentives upon retarded and normal readers on a visual-associate learning task

A visual-visual paired associate learning task was administered to 28 retarded readers and 28 normal readers aged 6–7 yr. There were 2 treatments, incentive and nonincentive, and half the Ss from each group were tested under each treatment. It was found that incentives had an incremental effect upon learning, that incentives were equally effective for both retarded and normal readers, and that the performance of the 2 groups did not differ significantly. The findings were related to other studies in this area.