16 Questions
What is the typical outcome of practicing perceptual tasks?
Performance improves with practice
What type of tasks produce more perceptual learning?
Tasks that require discriminations along multiple perceptual dimensions and use stimuli with external noise
What is the relationship between initial performance levels and the amount of learning?
Inversely proportional
What is the general characteristic of perceptual learning in terms of task specificity?
It is highly specific to the task and stimulus configuration used during training
When does perceptual learning tend to transfer between tasks?
When tasks are relatively easy to perform
What is not required to improve performance on a perceptual task?
Error-correcting feedback
How long can learned improvements in perceptual performance be retained?
2-3 years
What is necessary for consolidating perceptual learning?
Both slow-wave and rapid eye movement sleep, within a finite time period after training
What is perceptual learning, according to Eleanor Gibson?
An active process of extracting information from the environment through experience and practice
What is an example of perceptual learning in the natural world?
Identifying injury and disease in x-rays and brain scans
What is multimodal learning, as described in the context of bird watching?
Learning that involves both visual and auditory cues
What is true about the perception of visual attributes with practice?
Most visual attributes improve with practice
What determines the amount of learning in perceptual learning?
Initial performance levels
What is true about the perceptual benefits of learning?
They are specific to the task and stimuli used during training
What is not a requirement for perceptual learning?
Error-correcting feedback
What role does sleep play in perceptual learning?
It has a critical role in the consolidation of perceptual learning
Study Notes
Perceptual Learning
- Perceptual learning is the improvement in performance on perceptual tasks with practice, ranging from simple to complex judgments.
- Tasks requiring discriminations along multiple perceptual dimensions and use of external noise produce more perceptual learning than simple tasks.
Characteristics of Perceptual Learning
- The amount of learning is inversely proportional to initial performance levels.
- Perceptual learning is often specific to the task and stimulus configuration used during training.
- Learning can transfer between tasks that are relatively "easy" to perform.
Factors Influencing Perceptual Learning
- Error-correcting feedback is not required to improve performance on a perceptual task.
- Top-down attention to diagnostic stimulus features is required for learning on some tasks, while passive exposure to a stimulus may be sufficient for learning on other tasks.
- Sleep, specifically slow-wave and rapid eye movement sleep, is required within a finite time period after training to consolidate perceptual learning.
Theories and Historical Contributions
- Hermann von Helmholtz introduced the concept of unconscious inference, highlighting the role of experience in perception.
- William James (1890) developed the idea that "practice makes perfect" in achieving high levels of perceptual expertise.
- Eleanor Gibson (1969) defined perceptual learning as an increase in the ability to extract information from the environment due to experience and practice, and emphasized the importance of active learning.
Real-World Applications
- Perceptual learning is prevalent in everyday life, with examples including:
- Identifying injury and disease in x-rays and brain scans (e.g., radiologists spotting tumors).
- Bird watching, involving visual and auditory learning.
- Categorical discriminations (e.g., identifying faces, color categories).
- These skills are essential in various professions, such as law enforcement, where individuals are trained to identify troublemakers in a crowded environment.
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