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Perceptual learning of fine contrast discrimination changes neuronal tuning and population coding in macaque V4

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  • Mehdi Sanayei

    (Newcastle University)

  • Xing Chen

    (Newcastle University)

  • Daniel Chicharro

    (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Claudia Distler

    (Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • Stefano Panzeri

    (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)

  • Alexander Thiele

    (Newcastle University)

Abstract

Perceptual learning, the improvement in perceptual abilities with training, is thought to be mediated by an alteration of neuronal tuning. It remains poorly understood how tuning properties change as training progresses, whether improved stimulus tuning directly links to increased behavioural readout of sensory information, or how population coding mechanisms change with training. Here, we recorded continuously from multiple neuronal clusters in area V4 while macaque monkeys learned a fine contrast categorization task. Training increased neuronal coding abilities by shifting the steepest point of contrast response functions towards the categorization boundary. Population coding accuracy of difficult discriminations resulted largely from an increased information coding of individual channels, particularly for those channels that in early learning had larger ability for easy discriminations, but comparatively small encoding abilities for difficult discriminations. Population coding was also enhanced by specific changes in correlations. Neuronal activity became more indicative of upcoming choices with training.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehdi Sanayei & Xing Chen & Daniel Chicharro & Claudia Distler & Stefano Panzeri & Alexander Thiele, 2018. "Perceptual learning of fine contrast discrimination changes neuronal tuning and population coding in macaque V4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06698-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06698-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Alan Consorti & Gabriele Sansevero & Irene Marco & Silvia Floridia & Elena Novelli & Nicoletta Berardi & Alessandro Sale, 2024. "An essential role for the latero-medial secondary visual cortex in the acquisition and retention of visual perceptual learning in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.

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