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Li C, Li M, Shang Y. Cognitive training with adaptive algorithm improves cognitive ability in older people with MCI. Aging Clin Exp Res 2025; 37:20. [PMID: 39751703 PMCID: PMC11698878 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-024-02913-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 12/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025]
Abstract
Recent discoveries indicating that the brain retains its ability to adapt and change throughout life have sparked interest in cognitive training (CT) as a possible means to postpone the development of dementia. Despite this, most research has focused on confirming the efficacy of training outcomes, with few studies examining the correlation between performance and results across various stages of training. In particular, the relationship between initial performance and the extent of improvement, the rate of learning, and the asymptotic performance level throughout the learning curve remains ambiguous. In this study, older adults underwent ten days of selective attention training using an adaptive algorithm, which enabled a detailed analysis of the learning curve's progression. Cognitive abilities were assessed before and after CT using the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The findings indicated that: (1) Initial performance is positively correlated with Learning amount and asymptotic performance level, and negatively correlated with learning speed; (2) Age is negatively correlated with learning speed, while it is positively correlated with the other three parameters. (3) Higher pre-training MMSE scores predicted higher post-training MMSE scores but less improvement; (4) Higher pre-training MoCA scores predicted higher post-training MoCA scores and less improvement; (5) The parameters of the learning curve did not correlate with performance on the MMSE or MoCA. These results indicate that: (1)Selective attention training using adaptive algorithms is an effective tool for cognitive intervention; (2) Older individuals with poor baseline cognitive abilities require more diversified cognitive training; (3) The study supports the compensation hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Li
- School of Nursing, Yueyang Vocational Technical College, Yueyang, 414000, China
| | - Meiyun Li
- School of Management, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yunfeng Shang
- Rehabilitation Department, Yueyang Central Hospital, Yueyang, 414000, China.
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Tang XH, Wang MY, Jiang JY, Zhou FQ, Li D, Chen SS, Xiang CQ, Lei XY, Hu Y, Yang X. Vision Improvement in Keratoconus Patients Trained With Perceptual Learning: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Ophthalmol 2025; 269:226-235. [PMID: 39218388 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effectiveness and maintenance of perceptional learning (PL) on vision improvement in keratoconus (KC) patients corrected with spectacles. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind clinical trial. METHODS Non-progressive KC patients 9 years of age or older who had best spectacle-corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 0 to 1.0 logMAR (Snellen equivalent range 20/20 to 20/200) and who were contact lenses intolerant were enrolled. Eligible subjects were randomized into PL and control groups to receive PL and placebo training for 3 months, respectively. Spectacle-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity function (CSF), stereoacuity, and visual functioning and quality of life were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months of follow-up. Statistics were analyzed following the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS After 3 months of training, the CDVA of patients in the PL group improved as compared to the placebo group (0.17 ± 0.15 logMAR vs 0.02 ± 0.06 logMAR; P = .0006). Eight of 17 (47.06%) patients in the PL group reached CDVA improvement ≥2 lines (P = .0010). This improvement persisted for at least 6 months (from baseline) as compared to the placebo group (0.17 ± 0.17 logMAR vs 0.01 ± 0.07 logMAR; P = .0011). The increase in CSF in the PL group mainly was found for moderate spatial frequency (0.11 ± 0.17 log units at 3 cpd; 0.12 ± 0.19 log units at 6 cpd). Linear regression indicated that patients with worse initial CDVA achieved better gains in CDVA after PL (P = .009). No side effects were observed, and no subjects withdrew from the study because of training difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Three-month PL improved vision in KC patients, and the improvement was maintained after 3 months of treatment cessation. The results indicate that PL may be a promising therapy for KC patients with unsatisfied spectacle-corrected visual acuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Hua Tang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Meng-Yi Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jin-Yun Jiang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Feng-Qi Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology (F.-Q.Z.), Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Dan Li
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shuo-Shuo Chen
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Chu-Qi Xiang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xing-Yu Lei
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yin Hu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Xiao Yang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology (X.-H.T., M.-Y.W., J.-Y.J., D.L., S.-S.C., C.-Q.X., X.-Y.L., Y.H., X.Y.), Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
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Exogenous attention generalizes location transfer of perceptual learning in adults with amblyopia. iScience 2022; 25:103839. [PMID: 35243224 PMCID: PMC8857599 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.103839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual perceptual learning (VPL) is a behavioral manifestation of brain neuroplasticity. However, its practical effectiveness is limited because improvements are often specific to the trained conditions and require significant time and effort. It is critical to understand the conditions that promote learning and transfer. Covert endogenous (voluntary) and exogenous (involuntary) spatial attention help overcome VPL location specificity in neurotypical adults, but whether they also do so for people with atypical visual development is unknown. This study investigates the role of exogenous attention during VPL in adults with amblyopia, an ideal population given their asymmetrically developed, but highly plastic, visual cortex. Here we show that training on a discrimination task leads to improvements in foveal contrast sensitivity, acuity, and stereoacuity. Notably, exogenous attention helps generalize learning beyond trained spatial locations. Future large-scale studies can verify the extent to which attention enhances the effectiveness of perceptual learning during rehabilitation of visual disorders. Contrast sensitivity (CS)-based VPL in amblyopes improves CS, acuity and stereoacuity Similar improvement in trained amblyopic eye and untrained fellow eye Exogenous spatial attention facilitates location transfer of VPL in amblyopic adults
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Testing the efficacy of vision training for presbyopia: alternating-distance training does not facilitate vision improvement compared to fixed-distance training. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2022; 260:1551-1563. [PMID: 35006331 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-021-05548-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Current evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of vision training for presbyopia. We developed and examined a training program to test the effectiveness of alternating focal distances as a training method. METHODS We devised a sharpness discrimination task, in which participants judged whether the stimulus was a sine- or square-wave grating, and tested in two training groups and one control group. In the alternating-distance training group (N = 8, age 49-64), participants had to alternate the fixation between a near- and far-screen. In the fixed-distance training group (N=8, age 47-65), participants fixated on the same-distance target for the whole block. Before and after the 20 training sessions, we measured the near- and far-visual acuity (VA) using the Landolt C and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) tasks and contrast sensitivity using the qCSF procedure. The control group (N=8, age 49-65) participated only in the pre- and post-tests. RESULTS Both training groups showed a significant improvement between the pre- and post-tests in the Landolt C task, and the improvement sizes were not significantly different between the groups. In the ETDRS task, only the fixed-distance training group showed significant improvement, although there was no significant difference between the two groups. Neither group showed improvement in the contrast sensitivity task compared to the control group. CONCLUSION The novel sharpness discrimination task can be an effective training method for presbyopia to prevent the deterioration of VA; however, contrary to popular belief, the effect of alternating-distance training was comparable to or even weaker than that of fixed-distance training.
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The effect of initial performance on motion perception improvements is modulated by training method. Atten Percept Psychophys 2021; 84:179-187. [PMID: 34657999 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-021-02381-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Repeated practice of a perceptual task, termed "perceptual learning," can improve visual performance. Previously, the training thresholds were determined in two ways. One is that the stimulus corresponding to a certain level in individually set psychometric functions was selected as the training threshold. The other is that the certain stimulus was selected as the training threshold without consideration of individual differences. However, little is known about how the two training methods modulate perceptual learning. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of initial performance on patterns of motion perceptual learning under two methods-individually set or group averaged-for setting the training threshold. Thirty-six observers were randomly divided into individual and group thresholds. Psychometric functions, with the percentage correct as a function of coherence, were measured using the coherent motion direction identification task. For the individual threshold, each observer was trained at individualized coherence level, targeting 60% correct for each observer's psychometric function. For the group threshold, each observer was trained at one coherence level, targeting 60% correct in the group-averaged psychometric function. The threshold was reduced after training with the method of constant stimulus in both groups, indicating improvements following perceptual learning. Furthermore, observers with a poorer initial performance exhibited greater learning gains independent of the training method. Importantly, the correlation between the initial performance and learning gains was larger in the individual threshold than in the group threshold, suggesting the influence of the initial performance on the learning amount depends on the training method.
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Huurneman B, Goossens J. Broad and Long-Lasting Vision Improvements in Youth With Infantile Nystagmus After Home Training With a Perceptual Learning App. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:651205. [PMID: 34489619 PMCID: PMC8417383 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.651205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Current treatments for infantile nystagmus (IN), focused on dampening the oscillating eye movements, yield little to no improvement in visual functioning. It makes sense, however, to treat the visual impairments associated with IN with tailored sensory training. Recently, we developed such a training, targeting visual crowding as an important bottleneck in visual functioning with an eye-movement engaging letter discrimination task. This training improved visual performance of children with IN, but most children had not reached plateau performance after 10 supervised training sessions (3,500 trials). Here, we evaluate the effects of prolonged perceptual learning (14,000 trials) in 7-18-year-old children with IN and test the feasibility of tablet-based, at-home intervention. Results demonstrate that prolonged home-based perceptual training results in stable, long lasting visual acuity improvements at distance and near, with remarkably good transfer to reading and even stereopsis. Improvements on self-reported functional vision scores underline the clinical relevance of perceptual learning with e-health apps for individuals with IN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Huurneman
- Department Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Royal Dutch Visio, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Goossens
- Department Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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Hu DZ, Wen K, Chen LH, Yu C. Perceptual learning evidence for supramodal representation of stimulus orientation at a conceptual level. Vision Res 2021; 187:120-128. [PMID: 34252727 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2021.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
When stimulus inputs from different senses are integrated to form a coherent percept, inputs from a more precise sense are typically more dominant than those from a less precise sense. Furthermore, we hypothesized that some basic stimulus features, such as orientation, can be supramodal-represented at a conceptual level that is independent of the original modality precision. This hypothesis was tested with perceptual learning experiments. Specifically, participants practiced coarser tactile orientation discrimination, which initially had little impact on finer visual orientation discrimination (tactile vs. visual orientation thresholds = 3:1). However, if participants also practiced a functionally orthogonal visual contrast discrimination task in a double training design, their visual orientation performance was improved at both tactile-trained and untrained orientations, as much as through direct visual orientation training. The complete tactile-to-visual learning transfer is consistent with a conceptual supramodal representation of orientation unconstrained by original modality precision, likely through certain forms of input standardization. Moreover, this conceptual supramodal representation, when improved through perceptual learning in one sense, can in turn facilitate orientation discrimination in an untrained sense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Zhi Hu
- PKU-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Wen
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Han Chen
- School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Cong Yu
- PKU-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; IDG-McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Zhang P, Wu D, Shang Y, Ren W, Liang J, Wang L, Li C. Initial performance predicts improvements in computerized cognitive training: Evidence from a selective attention task. Psych J 2021; 10:742-750. [PMID: 34219391 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Computerized cognitive training (CCT) has been found to improve a range of skills such as attention, working memory, inhibition control, and decision making. However, the relationship between the initial performance, amount of improvement, time constant, and asymptotic performance level in CCT is still unclear. In the current study, we performed selective attention training on college students and addressed this issue by mathematically modeling the learning curve with an exponential function. Twenty-nine students completed approximately 10 days of CCT. Presentation time served as the dependent variable and was measured by three-down/one-up adaptive algorithms. We fitted an exponential function to the estimated block thresholds during CCT and obtained three learning parameters (amount of improvement, time constant, and asymptotic performance level) for all subjects. The initial performance was defined by the sum of the amount of improvement and the asymptotic performance level. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted between the initial performance and the three leaning parameters. The initial performance was positively correlated with the amount of improvement and asymptotic performance level, but was negatively correlated with the time constant. The time constant was negatively correlated with the amount of improvement and asymptotic performance level. Poorer initial performance was linked to a larger amount of improvement, shorter time constant, and higher asymptotic threshold, which supported the compensation account. Our results may help improve the present understanding of the nature of the CCT process and demonstrate the advantages of using a customized training protocol to enhance the efficiency of cognitive training in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Military Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yunfeng Shang
- Rehabilitation Department, The First People's Hospital of Yueyang, Yueyang, China
| | - Weicong Ren
- Department of Psychology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jin Liang
- China Institute of Marine Technology and Economy, Beijing, China
| | - Liyun Wang
- School of Nursing, Yueyang Vocational and Technical College, Yueyang, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- School of Nursing, Yueyang Vocational and Technical College, Yueyang, China
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Siman-Tov Z, Lev M, Polat U. Binocular summation is affected by crowding and tagging. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4843. [PMID: 33649371 PMCID: PMC7921124 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83510-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In perceptual crowding, a letter easily recognized on its own, becomes unrecognizable if it is surrounded by other letters, an effect that confers a limit on the visual processing. Models assume that crowding is a hallmark of the periphery but that it is almost absent in the fovea. However, recently it was shown that crowding occurs in the fovea of people with an abnormal development of functional vision (amblyopia), when the stimulus is presented for a very short time. When targets and flankers are dissimilar, the crowding is reduced (tagging). Since a combination of binocular inputs increases the processing load, we investigated whether color tagging the target reduces crowding in the fovea of subjects with normal vision and determined how crowding is combined with binocular vision. The crowding effect at the fovea was significantly reduced by tagging with a color target. Interestingly, whereas binocular summation for a single letter was expected to be about 40%, it was significantly reduced and almost absent under crowding conditions. Our results are consistent with the notion that the crowding effect produces a high processing load on visual processing, which interferes with other processes such as binocular summation. We assume that the tagging effect in our experiment improved the subject's abilities (sensitivity and RT) by creating a "segmentation", i.e., a visual simulated separation between the target letter and the background. Interestingly, tagging the target with a distinct color can eliminate or reduce the crowding effect and consequently, binocular summation recovers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziv Siman-Tov
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Maria Lev
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Uri Polat
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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Fernandez EJ, Suchkov N, Artal P. Adaptation to the eye's chromatic aberration measured with an adaptive optics visual simulator. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:37450-37458. [PMID: 33379579 DOI: 10.1364/oe.404296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Some aspects of vision after correcting the longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA) of the eye are not yet completely understood. For instance, correcting the LCA notably alters the through focus visual acuity (VA) curve, but it does not improve the best VA obtained for the natural case. In this work, vision with corrected LCA is further investigated by using an adaptive optics visual simulator (AOVS). VA was measured continuously during 20 minutes in 5 subjects under both natural and corrected LCA conditions to explore possible adaptation effects. Low contrast VA as a function of time exhibited a consistent and significant boost of 0.19 in decimal scale after an average time of 10.9 minutes of continuous testing. For high contrast, only one subject showed a similar increase in VA. These results suggest that some LCA neural adaptation may exist, particularly for low contrast. This adaptation impacts the performance of vision under corrected LCA, and possibly prevents measurement for immediate visual benefit. The results have practical implications for the design and visual testing of optical aids, especially those correcting, or altering, the LCA.
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Wu D, Li C, Liu N, Xu P, Xiao W. Visual motion perception improvements following direct current stimulation over V5 are dependent on initial performance. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:2409-2416. [PMID: 32776173 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05842-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve visual perception. However, the effect of tDCS on visual perception is largely variable, possibly due to individual differences in initial performance. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the dependency of visual motion perception improvements on initial performance. Twenty-eight observers were randomly divided into two groups. Anodal tDCS and sham stimulation were separately applied to V5 (1.5 mA, 20 min), while observers performed a coherent motion direction identification task. The results showed that compared to sham stimulation, anodal tDCS induced a significant improvement in motion perception that lasted at least 20 min. In addition, the degree of improvement was dependent on initial performance, with a greater improvement magnitude observed for those with poorer initial performance. These results may have implications for understanding the nature of the stimulation rule and for the use of a customised stimulation protocol to enhance tDCS efficiency in practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Department of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Scholl of Nursing, Yueyang Vocational Technical College, Yueyang, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Nursing, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Pengbo Xu
- Department of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Department of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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12
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Huurneman B, Nienke Boonstra F, Goossens J. Specificity and retention of visual perceptual learning in young children with low vision. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8873. [PMID: 32483176 PMCID: PMC7264217 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65789-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
There is evidence that a pen-and-paper training based on perceptual learning principles improves near visual acuity in young children with visual impairment. The aim of the present study is to measure specificity and retention of its training effects during one year. Sixteen visually impaired children aged 4-8 years were divided in two age- and acuity-matched groups: an early (n = 9) and late treatment group (n = 7). Training consisted of 12 sessions (2× per week for 6 weeks). Studied variables were uncrowded and crowded binocular near visual acuity (40 cm), distance visual acuity (3.0 m) and fine motor skills (Beery VMI, subtest Motor Control). In the early treatment group, we measured at 0 months (pre-training), at 2 months (post-training), at 8 months (6 months post-training) and at 14 months (12 months post-training) since inclusion. In the late treatment group, three pre-training measurements were performed at 0, 2 and 8 months, and two measurements at 0 and 6 months post-training. In the short term, training improved uncrowded and crowded near visual acuity at 0.4 m by 0.13 ± 0.03 and 0.09 ± 0.03 logMAR, respectively (mean ± SEM). Training did not affect distance acuities or Beery scores. Learning effects on uncrowded and crowded near visual acuities remained intact 6-12 months after training. We conclude that the pen-and-paper training specifically improves near visual acuities but does not transfer to distance acuities or fine motor skills. Improvements in near visual acuity are retained over time, bolstering its clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Huurneman
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Royal Dutch Visio, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - F Nienke Boonstra
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Royal Dutch Visio, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Goossens
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Wu D, Zhang P, Li C, Liu N, Jia W, Chen G, Ren W, Sun Y, Xiao W. Perceptual Learning at Higher Trained Cutoff Spatial Frequencies Induces Larger Visual Improvements. Front Psychol 2020; 11:265. [PMID: 32153473 PMCID: PMC7047335 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that extensive practice of a perceptual task can improve visual performance, termed perceptual learning. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the dependency of visual improvements on the features of training stimuli (i.e., spatial frequency). Twenty-eight observers were divided into training and control groups. Visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity function (CSF) were measured and compared before and after training. All observers in the training group were trained in a monocular grating detection task near their individual cutoff spatial frequencies. The results showed that perceptual learning induced significant visual improvement, which was dependent on the cutoff spatial frequency, with a greater improvement magnitude and transfer of perceptual learning observed for those trained with higher spatial frequencies. However, VA significantly improved following training but was not related to the cutoff spatial frequency. The results may broaden the understanding of the nature of the learning rule and the neural plasticity of different cortical areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Department of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Chenxi Li
- School of Nursing, Yueyang Vocational Technical College, Yueyang, China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Nursing, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wuli Jia
- Department of Psychology, School of Education Science, Huaiyin Normal University, Huai'an, China
| | - Ge Chen
- School of Arts and Design, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weicong Ren
- Department of Psychology, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuqi Sun
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wei Xiao
- Department of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
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14
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Lengyel G, Fiser J. The relationship between initial threshold, learning, and generalization in perceptual learning. J Vis 2019; 19:28. [PMID: 31022729 PMCID: PMC6487893 DOI: 10.1167/19.4.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the origin of two previously reported general rules of perceptual learning. First, the initial discrimination thresholds and the amount of learning were found to be related through a Weber-like law. Second, increased training length negatively influenced the observer's ability to generalize the obtained knowledge to a new context. Using a five-day training protocol, separate groups of observers were trained to perform discrimination around two different reference values of either contrast (73% and 30%) or orientation (25° and 0°). In line with previous research, we found a Weber-like law between initial performance and the amount of learning, regardless of whether the tested attribute was contrast or orientation. However, we also showed that this relationship directly reflected observers' perceptual scaling function relating physical intensities to perceptual magnitudes, suggesting that participants learned equally on their internal perceptual space in all conditions. In addition, we found that with the typical five-day training period, the extent of generalization was proportional to the amount of learning, seemingly contradicting the previously reported diminishing generalization with practice. This result suggests that the negative link between generalization and the length of training found in earlier studies might have been due to overfitting after longer training and not directly due to the amount of learning per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Lengyel
- Department of Cognitive Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Fiser
- Department of Cognitive Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
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15
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Sterkin A, Levy Y, Pokroy R, Lev M, Levian L, Doron R, Yehezkel O, Fried M, Frenkel-Nir Y, Gordon B, Polat U. Vision improvement in pilots with presbyopia following perceptual learning. Vision Res 2017; 152:61-73. [PMID: 29154795 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 09/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Israeli Air Force (IAF) pilots continue flying combat missions after the symptoms of natural near-vision deterioration, termed presbyopia, begin to be noticeable. Because modern pilots rely on the displays of the aircraft control and performance instruments, near visual acuity (VA) is essential in the cockpit. We aimed to apply a method previously shown to improve visual performance of presbyopes, and test whether presbyopic IAF pilots can overcome the limitation imposed by presbyopia. Participants were selected by the IAF aeromedical unit as having at least initial presbyopia and trained using a structured personalized perceptual learning method (GlassesOff application), based on detecting briefly presented low-contrast Gabor stimuli, under the conditions of spatial and temporal constraints, from a distance of 40 cm. Our results show that despite their initial visual advantage over age-matched peers, training resulted in robust improvements in various basic visual functions, including static and temporal VA, stereoacuity, spatial crowding, contrast sensitivity and contrast discrimination. Moreover, improvements generalized to higher-level tasks, such as sentence reading and aerial photography interpretation (specifically designed to reflect IAF pilots' expertise in analyzing noisy low-contrast input). In concert with earlier suggestions, gains in visual processing speed are plausible to account, at least partially, for the observed training-induced improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sterkin
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | | | - Russell Pokroy
- Israel Air Force Aeromedical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Maria Lev
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
| | - Liora Levian
- Israel Air Force Aeromedical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Ravid Doron
- Hadassah Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oren Yehezkel
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Moshe Fried
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | | | - Barak Gordon
- Israel Air Force Aeromedical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Uri Polat
- Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Israel; Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
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16
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Beyeler M, Rokem A, Boynton GM, Fine I. Learning to see again: biological constraints on cortical plasticity and the implications for sight restoration technologies. J Neural Eng 2017; 14:051003. [PMID: 28612755 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa795e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The 'bionic eye'-so long a dream of the future-is finally becoming a reality with retinal prostheses available to patients in both the US and Europe. However, clinical experience with these implants has made it apparent that the visual information provided by these devices differs substantially from normal sight. Consequently, the ability of patients to learn to make use of this abnormal retinal input plays a critical role in whether or not some functional vision is successfully regained. The goal of the present review is to summarize the vast basic science literature on developmental and adult cortical plasticity with an emphasis on how this literature might relate to the field of prosthetic vision. We begin with describing the distortion and information loss likely to be experienced by visual prosthesis users. We then define cortical plasticity and perceptual learning, and describe what is known, and what is unknown, about visual plasticity across the hierarchy of brain regions involved in visual processing, and across different stages of life. We close by discussing what is known about brain plasticity in sight restoration patients and discuss biological mechanisms that might eventually be harnessed to improve visual learning in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Beyeler
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America. Institute for Neuroengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America. eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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17
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Nyquist JB, Lappin JS, Zhang R, Tadin D. Perceptual training yields rapid improvements in visually impaired youth. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37431. [PMID: 27901026 PMCID: PMC5128825 DOI: 10.1038/srep37431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual function demands coordinated responses to information over a wide field of view, involving both central and peripheral vision. Visually impaired individuals often seem to underutilize peripheral vision, even in absence of obvious peripheral deficits. Motivated by perceptual training studies with typically sighted adults, we examined the effectiveness of perceptual training in improving peripheral perception of visually impaired youth. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of three training regimens: (1) an action video game, (2) a psychophysical task that combined attentional tracking with a spatially and temporally unpredictable motion discrimination task, and (3) a control video game. Training with both the action video game and modified attentional tracking yielded improvements in visual performance. Training effects were generally larger in the far periphery and appear to be stable 12 months after training. These results indicate that peripheral perception might be under-utilized by visually impaired youth and that this underutilization can be improved with only ~8 hours of perceptual training. Moreover, the similarity of improvements following attentional tracking and action video-game training suggest that well-documented effects of action video-game training might be due to the sustained deployment of attention to multiple dynamic targets while concurrently requiring rapid attending and perception of unpredictable events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B. Nyquist
- Vanderbilt Vision Research Center and Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN, 37240, USA
- Department of Psychology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI, 49855, USA
- Neurotrainer, Marquette, MI, 49855, USA
| | - Joseph S. Lappin
- Vanderbilt Vision Research Center and Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN, 37240, USA
| | - Ruyuan Zhang
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Minneapolis MN, 55455, USA
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
| | - Duje Tadin
- Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
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18
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Harris H, Israeli D, Minshew NJ, Bonneh YS, Heeger DJ, Behrmann M, Sagi D. Response: Commentary: Perceptual learning in autism: over-specificity and possible remedies. Front Integr Neurosci 2016; 10:36. [PMID: 27881955 PMCID: PMC5101208 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2016.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hila Harris
- Department of Neurobiology/Brain Research, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel
| | - David Israeli
- Psychiatric Arrray, Kaplan Medical CenterRehovot, Israel; School of Medicine, Hebrew UniversityJerusalem, Israel
| | - Nancy J Minshew
- Center For Excellence in Autism Research, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yoram S Bonneh
- Department of Neurobiology/Brain Research, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot, Israel; Department of Optometry, Bar-Ilan UniversityRamat-Gan, Israel
| | - David J Heeger
- Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science, New York University New York, NY, USA
| | - Marlene Behrmann
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dov Sagi
- Department of Neurobiology/Brain Research, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel
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