Visual perceptual learning is similar across the extrafoveal central visual fields.
OBJECTIVE
Visual perceptual learning occurs with the presentation of novel visual stimuli at retinal sites near the fovea to 20 degrees eccentricities. It was unclear if the magnitude and rate of visual learning were similar across the central visual fields or if visual learning decreased with increasing eccentricity. The robustness of learning across the visual fields may affect the magnitude of computer-aided visual recovery after visual brain injury. Therefore we determined if eccentricity was a factor that influenced perceptual learning.


METHODS
Subjects were trained to detect the presence or absence of a single line oriented differently (odd-element) from an array of lines that otherwise had the same orientation. The odd-element line was presented 3 degrees, 9 degrees or 18 degrees from fixation.


RESULTS
Perceptual performance improved during training trials with a similar magnitude and similar learning curve slopes at all 3 eccentricities. Pre- and post-training performance improved to a similar magnitude at 3 vs 9 degrees in 4 of 4 subjects tested and at 9 degrees vs 18 degrees in 4 of 5 subjects. In the fifth subject there was no post-training improvement in performance at 18 degrees.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual perceptual learning is similar across the extrafoveal central visual fields in almost all subjects.
Neary
K
K
California Institute for Medical Research at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA 95128, USA.
Anand
S
S
Hotson
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult