title: Neural mechanisms of human perceptual learning: electrophysiological evidence for a two-stage process.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Humans and other animals change the way they perceive the world due to experience. This process has been labeled as perceptual learning, and implies that adult nervous systems can adaptively modify the way in which they process sensory stimulation. However, the mechanisms by which the brain modifies this capacity have not been sufficiently analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied the neural mechanisms of human perceptual learning by combining electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings of brain activity and the assessment of psychophysical performance during training in a visual search task. All participants improved their perceptual performance as reflected by an increase in sensitivity (d') and a decrease in reaction time. The EEG signal was acquired throughout the entire experiment revealing amplitude increments, specific and unspecific to the trained stimulus, in event-related potential (ERP) components N2pc and P3 respectively. P3 unspecific modification can be related to context or task-based learning, while N2pc may be reflecting a more specific attentional-related boosting of target detection. Moreover, bell and U-shaped profiles of oscillatory brain activity in gamma (30-60 Hz) and alpha (8-14 Hz) frequency bands may suggest the existence of two phases for learning acquisition, which can be understood as distinctive optimization mechanisms in stimulus processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that there are reorganizations in several neural processes that contribute differently to perceptual learning in a visual search task. We propose an integrative model of neural activity reorganization, whereby perceptual learning takes place as a two-stage phenomenon including perceptual, attentional and contextual processes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neurociencia Cognitiva, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. carlos.hamame@inserm.fr
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hamamé
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cosmelli
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henriquez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aboitiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004566:Electrodes; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult