Visual perceptual learning is effective in the illusory far but not in the near space

Zafarana, Antonio; Farnè, Alessandro; Tamè, Luigi · 2024 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3758/s13423-023-02389-w

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Summary

This study investigates whether visual perceptual learning is influenced by the spatial distance of stimuli from the observer, specifically comparing peripersonal space (PPS, near) and extrapersonal space (EPS, far). While previous research established that visual processing is generally faster and more accurate for objects in PPS, it remained unclear whether this proximal advantage extends to perceptual learning. The authors hypothesized that training in the near space would yield superior learning effects due to enhanced processing mechanisms in PPS. To test this, thirty-six participants performed a visual search task involving the detection of a specific triangle orientation among distractors. The experiment utilized a 2D Ponzo illusion to create illusory near and far spaces while maintaining constant retinal stimulus size. Participants were divided into two groups: one trained in the near space and the other in the far space. Training consisted of 30 minutes per day for five days, focusing on a single target orientation. Performance was assessed before and after training using d-prime metrics for accuracy and response times. Contrary to the hypothesis, results indicated that perceptual learning was effective only for participants trained in the far space. The far-space training group showed significant improvements in detection accuracy for the trained orientation in both the far and near spaces, demonstrating spatial generalization. In contrast, the near-space training group showed no significant improvement in performance. Response time analyses revealed no significant differences between groups or conditions. The authors suggest that the lack of learning in the near space may be due to attentional constraints; stimuli in PPS may induce stronger attentional engagement or difficulty in disengaging attention, whereas the far space allows for more flexible attentional deployment. Additionally, the Ponzo illusion may have facilitated learning in the far space by inducing a perception of larger stimulus size, which can enhance orientation discrimination. These findings challenge the assumption that the perceptual advantages of PPS automatically translate to superior learning outcomes. Instead, they suggest that the mechanisms supporting rapid perception in near space may not be optimal for the plasticity required for perceptual learning. The study highlights a dissociation between online visual processing and learning efficiency across spatial domains, implying that attentional dynamics and perceived stimulus properties play critical roles in determining where and how visual learning occurs.

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• speed distance perception