title: Perceptual learning to discriminate the intensity and spatial location of nociceptive stimuli.
abstract: Accurate discrimination of the intensity and spatial location of nociceptive stimuli is essential to guide appropriate behaviour. The ability to discriminate the attributes of sensory stimuli is continuously refined by practice, even throughout adulthood - a phenomenon called perceptual learning. In the visual domain, perceptual learning to discriminate one of the features that define a visual stimulus (e.g., its orientation) can transfer to a different feature of the same stimulus (e.g., its contrast). Here, we performed two experiments on 48 volunteers to characterize perceptual learning in nociception, which has been rarely studied. We investigated whether learning to discriminate either the intensity or the location of nociceptive stimuli (1) occurs during practice and is subsequently maintained, (2) requires feedback on performance, and (3) transfers to the other, unpractised stimulus feature. First, we found clear evidence that perceptual learning in discriminating both the intensity and the location of nociceptive stimuli occurs, and is maintained for at least 3 hours after practice. Second, learning occurs only when feedback is provided during practice. Finally, learning is largely confined to the feature for which feedback was provided. We discuss these effects in a predictive coding framework, and consider implications for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dolgilevica
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steckelmacher
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haggard
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Centre of Neuroimaging, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friston
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Giandomenico D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Iannetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D000068156:Formative Feedback; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059225:Nociception / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D065854:Spatial Navigation; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult