Perceptual learning incepted by decoded fMRI neurofeedback without stimulus presentation

It is controversial whether the adult primate early visual cortex is sufficiently plastic to cause visual perceptual learning (VPL). The controversy occurs partially because most VPL studies have examined correlations between behavioral and neural activity changes rather than cause-and-effect relati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 334; no. 6061; p. 1413
Main Authors: Shibata, Kazuhisa, Watanabe, Takeo, Sasaki, Yuka, Kawato, Mitsuo
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 09.12.2011
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Brain Mapping
Female
Humans
Learning
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neurofeedback
Neuronal Plasticity
Size Perception
Visual Cortex - physiology
Visual Perception
Young Adult
ISSN:1095-9203, 1095-9203
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:It is controversial whether the adult primate early visual cortex is sufficiently plastic to cause visual perceptual learning (VPL). The controversy occurs partially because most VPL studies have examined correlations between behavioral and neural activity changes rather than cause-and-effect relationships. With an online-feedback method that uses decoded functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals, we induced activity patterns only in early visual cortex corresponding to an orientation without stimulus presentation or participants' awareness of what was to be learned. The induced activation caused VPL specific to the orientation. These results suggest that early visual areas are so plastic that mere inductions of activity patterns are sufficient to cause VPL. This technique can induce plasticity in a highly selective manner, potentially leading to powerful training and rehabilitative protocols.
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ISSN:1095-9203
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1212003