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Malania M, Lin YS, Hörmandinger C, Werner JS, Greenlee MW, Plank T. Training-induced changes in population receptive field properties in visual cortex: Impact of eccentric vision training on population receptive field properties and the crowding effect. J Vis 2024; 24:7. [PMID: 38771584 PMCID: PMC11114612 DOI: 10.1167/jov.24.5.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the impact of eccentric-vision training on population receptive field (pRF) estimates to provide insights into brain plasticity processes driven by practice. Fifteen participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measurements before and after behavioral training on a visual crowding task, where the relative orientation of the opening (gap position: up/down, left/right) in a Landolt C optotype had to be discriminated in the presence of flanking ring stimuli. Drifting checkerboard bar stimuli were used for pRF size estimation in multiple regions of interest (ROIs): dorsal-V1 (dV1), dorsal-V2 (dV2), ventral-V1 (vV1), and ventral-V2 (vV2), including the visual cortex region corresponding to the trained retinal location. pRF estimates in V1 and V2 were obtained along eccentricities from 0.5° to 9°. Statistical analyses revealed a significant decrease of the crowding anisotropy index (p = 0.009) after training, indicating improvement on crowding task performance following training. Notably, pRF sizes at and near the trained location decreased significantly (p = 0.005). Dorsal and ventral V2 exhibited significant pRF size reductions, especially at eccentricities where the training stimuli were presented (p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant changes in pRF estimates were found in either vV1 (p = 0.181) or dV1 (p = 0.055) voxels. These findings suggest that practice on a crowding task can lead to a reduction of pRF sizes in trained visual cortex, particularly in V2, highlighting the plasticity and adaptability of the adult visual system induced by prolonged training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maka Malania
- Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Yih-Shiuan Lin
- Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - John S Werner
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Mark W Greenlee
- Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tina Plank
- Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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2
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Ying R, Stolzberg DJ, Caras ML. Neural correlates of flexible sound perception in the auditory midbrain and thalamus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.12.589266. [PMID: 38645241 PMCID: PMC11030403 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.12.589266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Hearing is an active process in which listeners must detect and identify sounds, segregate and discriminate stimulus features, and extract their behavioral relevance. Adaptive changes in sound detection can emerge rapidly, during sudden shifts in acoustic or environmental context, or more slowly as a result of practice. Although we know that context- and learning-dependent changes in the spectral and temporal sensitivity of auditory cortical neurons support many aspects of flexible listening, the contribution of subcortical auditory regions to this process is less understood. Here, we recorded single- and multi-unit activity from the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) and the ventral subdivision of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGV) of Mongolian gerbils under two different behavioral contexts: as animals performed an amplitude modulation (AM) detection task and as they were passively exposed to AM sounds. Using a signal detection framework to estimate neurometric sensitivity, we found that neural thresholds in both regions improved during task performance, and this improvement was driven by changes in firing rate rather than phase locking. We also found that ICC and MGV neurometric thresholds improved and correlated with behavioral performance as animals learn to detect small AM depths during a multi-day perceptual training paradigm. Finally, we reveal that in the MGV, but not the ICC, context-dependent enhancements in AM sensitivity grow stronger during perceptual training, mirroring prior observations in the auditory cortex. Together, our results suggest that the auditory midbrain and thalamus contribute to flexible sound processing and perception over rapid and slow timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Ying
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
- Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
| | - Daniel J. Stolzberg
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
| | - Melissa L. Caras
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
- Center for Comparative and Evolutionary Biology of Hearing, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742
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3
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Frank SM, Becker M, Malloni WM, Sasaki Y, Greenlee MW, Watanabe T. Protocol to conduct functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy in different age groups of human participants. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102493. [PMID: 37572324 PMCID: PMC10448431 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a protocol to conduct functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) in human participants before, during, and after training on a visual task. We describe steps for participant setup, volume-of-interest placement, fMRS measurement, and post-scan tests. We discuss the design, analysis, and interpretation of fMRS experiments. This protocol can be adapted to investigate the dynamics of chief excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters (glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA, respectively) while participants perform or learn perceptual, motor, or cognitive tasks. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Frank et al. (2022).1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian M Frank
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Markus Becker
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wilhelm M Malloni
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Yuka Sasaki
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Mark W Greenlee
- University of Regensburg, Institute for Experimental Psychology, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Takeo Watanabe
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Murai SA, Riquimaroux H. Long-term changes in cortical representation through perceptual learning of spectrally degraded speech. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2023; 209:163-172. [PMID: 36464716 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-022-01593-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Listeners can adapt to acoustically degraded speech with perceptual training. The learning processes for long periods underlies the rehabilitation of patients with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Perceptual learning of acoustically degraded speech has been associated with the frontotemporal cortices. However, neural processes during and after long-term perceptual learning remain unclear. Here we conducted perceptual training of noise-vocoded speech sounds (NVSS), which is spectrally degraded signals, and measured the cortical activity for seven days and the follow up testing (approximately 1 year later) to investigate changes in neural activation patterns using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We demonstrated that young adult participants (n = 5) improved their performance across seven experimental days, and the gains were maintained after 10 months or more. Representational similarity analysis showed that the neural activation patterns of NVSS relative to clear speech in the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) were significantly different across seven training days, accompanying neural changes in frontal cortices. In addition, the distinct activation patterns to NVSS in the frontotemporal cortices were also observed 10-13 months after the training. We, therefore, propose that perceptual training can induce plastic changes and long-term effects on neural representations of the trained degraded speech in the frontotemporal cortices. These behavioral improvements and neural changes induced by the perceptual learning of degraded speech will provide insights into cortical mechanisms underlying adaptive processes in difficult listening situations and long-term rehabilitation of auditory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota A Murai
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 1-3 Miyakodani, Tatara, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan.,International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Riquimaroux
- Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 1-3 Miyakodani, Tatara, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan.
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Frank SM, Qi A, Ravasio D, Sasaki Y, Rosen EL, Watanabe T. A behavioral training protocol using visual perceptual learning to improve a visual skill. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100240. [PMID: 33409503 PMCID: PMC7773684 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2020.100240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a behavioral training protocol using visual perceptual learning (VPL) to improve visual detection skills in non-experts for subtle mammographic lesions indicative of breast cancer. This protocol can be adapted for the professional training of experts (radiologists) or to improve visual skills for other tasks, such as the detection of targets in photo or video surveillance. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Frank et al. (2020a). Behavioral training using VPL induces long-lasting improvements of a visual skill Training should be conducted using detailed feedback about response accuracy Training can be conducted with minimal technical equipment VPL protocol can be used for clinical or other professional training
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian M Frank
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Andrea Qi
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Daniela Ravasio
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Yuka Sasaki
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Eric L Rosen
- Stanford University, Department of Radiology, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,University of Colorado Denver, Department of Radiology, 12401 East 17th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Takeo Watanabe
- Brown University, Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, 190 Thayer St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
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Aloufi AE, Rowe FJ, Meyer GF. Behavioural performance improvement in visuomotor learning correlates with functional and microstructural brain changes. Neuroimage 2020; 227:117673. [PMID: 33359355 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of practice-induced functional and structural changes in our brains can help us design more effective learning environments that provide better outcomes. Although there is growing evidence from human neuroimaging that experience-dependent brain plasticity is expressed in measurable brain changes that are correlated with behavioural performance, the relationship between behavioural performance and structural or functional brain changes, and particularly the time course of these changes, is not well characterised. To understand the link between neuroplastic changes and behavioural performance, 15 healthy participants in this study followed a systematic eye movement training programme for 30 min daily at home, 5 days a week and for 6 consecutive weeks. Behavioural performance statistics and eye tracking data were captured throughout the training period to evaluate learning outcomes. Imaging data (DTI and fMRI) were collected at baseline, after two and six weeks of continuous training, and four weeks after training ended. Participants showed significant improvements in behavioural performance (faster task completion time, lower fixation number and fixation duration). Spatially overlapping reductions in microstructural diffusivity measures (MD, AD and RD) and functional activation increases (BOLD signal) were observed in two main areas: extrastriate visual cortex (V3d) and the frontal part of the cerebellum/Fastigial Oculomotor Region (FOR), which are both involved in visual processing. An increase of functional activity was also recorded in the right frontal eye field. Behavioural, structural and functional changes were correlated. Microstructural change is a better predictor for long-term behavioural change than functional activation is, whereas the latter is superior in predicting instantaneous performance. Structural and functional measures at week 2 of the training programme also predict performance at week 6 and 10, which suggests that imaging data at an early stage of training may be useful in optimising practice environments or rehabilitative training programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Aloufi
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, Liverpool L69 7ZA, UK
| | - F J Rowe
- Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - G F Meyer
- Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Eleanor Rathbone Building, Bedford Street South, Liverpool L69 7ZA, UK.
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Malania M, Pawellek M, Plank T, Greenlee MW. Training-Induced Changes in Radial-Tangential Anisotropy of Visual Crowding. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:25. [PMID: 32879781 PMCID: PMC7442869 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.9.25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose One of the diagnostic features of visual crowding, radial–tangential anisotropy, has been observed both in behavioral experiments as well as in responses of the blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal. As has been shown previously, crowding is stronger for radially arranged flankers, and this tendency is reflected in BOLD signal suppression. In the current study, we examined the effect of practice on the neural correlates of crowding. We expected that training on a crowding task would cause shrinkage of the crowding zone that would be mirrored in corresponding BOLD signal responses. Methods Pre- and post-training fMRI images were acquired in 17 healthy volunteers using a 3-tesla MRI scanner. Participants were trained over 4 consecutive days on a crowding task. Results Comparison of the pre- and post-training behavioral data indicates a significant shrinkage of the crowding zone as a result of training. Moreover, we observed a pronounced radial–tangential anisotropy in the BOLD signal prior to training; that is, radial flankers induced a larger reduction in the BOLD signal compared to equally spaced tangential flankers. After training, this radial–tangential anisotropy in the BOLD signal was significantly reduced. Specifically, we found significant changes in BOLD responses for the radial flanker configuration. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that training-induced changes in the anisotropic shape of the crowding zone are reflected in the BOLD signal in the early visual cortex. Translational Relevance Perceptual learning tasks may have the potential to improve visual performance by promoting neural plasticity. Our results could motivate the development of suitable rehabilitation protocols for patients with central vision loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maka Malania
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maja Pawellek
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.,Children's University Hospital, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tina Plank
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mark W Greenlee
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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8
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Reavis EA, Frank SM, Tse PU. Learning efficient visual search for stimuli containing diagnostic spatial configurations and color-shape conjunctions. Atten Percept Psychophys 2018; 80:1110-1126. [PMID: 29651754 PMCID: PMC6035115 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-018-1516-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Visual search is often slow and difficult for complex stimuli such as feature conjunctions. Search efficiency, however, can improve with training. Search for stimuli that can be identified by the spatial configuration of two elements (e.g., the relative position of two colored shapes) improves dramatically within a few hundred trials of practice. Several recent imaging studies have identified neural correlates of this learning, but it remains unclear what stimulus properties participants learn to use to search efficiently. Influential models, such as reverse hierarchy theory, propose two major possibilities: learning to use information contained in low-level image statistics (e.g., single features at particular retinotopic locations) or in high-level characteristics (e.g., feature conjunctions) of the task-relevant stimuli. In a series of experiments, we tested these two hypotheses, which make different predictions about the effect of various stimulus manipulations after training. We find relatively small effects of manipulating low-level properties of the stimuli (e.g., changing their retinotopic location) and some conjunctive properties (e.g., color-position), whereas the effects of manipulating other conjunctive properties (e.g., color-shape) are larger. Overall, the findings suggest conjunction learning involving such stimuli might be an emergent phenomenon that reflects multiple different learning processes, each of which capitalizes on different types of information contained in the stimuli. We also show that both targets and distractors are learned, and that reversing learned target and distractor identities impairs performance. This suggests that participants do not merely learn to discriminate target and distractor stimuli, they also learn stimulus identity mappings that contribute to performance improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Reavis
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, USA.
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA.
| | - Sebastian M Frank
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic & Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Peter U Tse
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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