Learning to adapt: Dynamics of readaptation to geometrical distortions

Oren Yehezkel, Dov Sagi, Anna Sterkin, Michael Belkin, Uri Polat

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

The visual system can adapt to optical blur, whereby the adapted image is perceived as sharp. Here we show that adaptation reduces blur-induced biases in shape perception, with repeated adaptations (perceptual learning), leading to unbiased perception upon re-exposure to blur. Observers wore a cylindrical lens of +1.00. D on one eye, thus simulating monocular astigmatism. The other eye was either masked with a translucent blurred lens (monocular) or unmasked (dichoptic). Adaptation was tested in several repeated sessions with a proximity-grouping task, using horizontally or vertically arranged dot-arrays, without feedback, before, after, and throughout the adaptation period. A robust bias in global-orientation judgment was observed with the lens, in accordance with the blur axes. After the observer wore the lens for 2. h, there was no significant change in the bias, but after 4. h, the monocular condition, but not the dichoptic, resulted in reduced bias. The adaptation effect of the monocular 4-h adaptation was preserved, and even improved, when the lens was re-applied the next day, indicating learning. After-effects were observed under all experimental conditions except for the 4-h monocular condition, where learning took place. We suggest that, with long experience, adaptation is transferred to a long-term memory that can be instantly engaged when blur is re-applied, or disengaged when blur is removed, thus leaving no after-effects. The comparison between the monocular and dichoptic conditions indicates a binocular cortical site of plasticity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1550-1558
Number of pages9
JournalVision Research
Volume50
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Jul 2010
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) , the Claire & Amedee Maratier Institute for the Study of Visual Disorder and Blindness, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Joseph Sagol Fellowship Program for Brain Research, Israel.

Funding

This study was supported in part by the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) , the Claire & Amedee Maratier Institute for the Study of Visual Disorder and Blindness, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Joseph Sagol Fellowship Program for Brain Research, Israel.

FundersFunder number
Claire & Amedee Maratier Institute
Joseph Sagol Fellowship Program for Brain Research, Israel
Israel Science Foundation

    Keywords

    • Perception
    • Perceptual grouping
    • Perceptual learning
    • Plasticity
    • Visual adaptation

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