Differential aversive learning enhances orientation discrimination. Issue 4 (19th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rhodes, L. Jack; Ruiz, Aholibama; Ríos, Matthew; Nguyen, Thomas; Miskovic, Vladimir
• Is Part Of: Cognition and emotion. Volume 32:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 885
• Page End: 891
• Publication Date: 2018-05-19
• Subjects: Conditioning -- aversive learning -- orientation discrimination -- just noticeable difference -- visual system; Cognition -- Periodicals; Emotions and cognition -- Periodicals; 155.413
• DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2017.1347084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9931

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A number of recent studies have documented rapid changes in behavioural sensory acuity induced by aversive learning in the olfactory and auditory modalities. The effect of aversive learning on the discrimination of low-level features in the visual system of humans remains unclear. Here, we used a psychophysical staircase procedure to estimate discrimination thresholds for oriented grating stimuli, before and after differential aversive learning. We discovered that when a target grating orientation was conditioned with an aversive loud noise, it subsequently led to an improvement of discrimination acuity in nearly all subjects. However, no such change was observed in a control group conditioned to an orientation shifted by ±90° from the target. Our findings cannot be explained by contextual learning or sensitisation factors. The results converge with those reported in the olfactory modality and provide further evidence that early sensory systems can be rapidly modified by recently experienced reinforcement histories.