Moderators and Mediators of Perceptual Learning
- Conditions
- Cognitive Change
- Interventions
- Behavioral: C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL)Behavioral: C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT)Behavioral: C2 - Long Training (LT)Behavioral: C3 - Short Staircases (SS)Behavioral: C5 - Noise Training (NT)Behavioral: C8a - Complex Features (CF)Behavioral: C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT)Behavioral: C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV)Behavioral: C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT)Behavioral: No Contact ControlBehavioral: C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD)Behavioral: C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF)Behavioral: C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF)
- Registration Number
- NCT05894967
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Brief Summary
This is a research study about how training can impact performance on cognitive tasks. Participants are between 18 and 30 and 60 to 85 years of age, have normal (or corrected to normal) vision, and have no neurological conditions that would preclude their ability to complete computerized cognitive tasks. Up to 1140 participants will be on study for up to 8 weeks.
- Detailed Description
This study addresses the fundamental issue of specificity and generality of training in the context of Perceptual Learning (PL). PL broadly encompasses the set of mechanisms through which experience with the environment gives rise to changes in perceptual processing. Careful research in this domain can greatly enhance basic understanding of the perceptual systems and the plasticity of these systems. Furthermore, translational approaches underpinned by the basic science of PL are becoming increasingly prominent. This includes a host of emerging translational approaches for the rehabilitation of both perceptual deficits and for cognitive training, which are believed to share cortical plasticity mechanisms. However, while existing research provides evidence that PL approaches can improve perceptual skills, the ability to develop effective interventions is limited by a lack of understanding of the behavioral outcomes associated with different PL approaches. One major obstacle to successful translation of PL is that the field to-date has been strongly driven by "novel" and "provocative" findings demonstrated via small N studies with very few projects digging deep to achieve robust and reliable results. In turn, not surprisingly, the field of PL, like many others in psychology, has suffered from numerous replication challenges. Here the investigators address these limitations by comparing a large number of different training tasks using common outcome measures and in a large subject population. Each training tasks involves a different "critical feature" for learning proposed by one or more research groups. However, these training tasks have never been directly compared or contrasted. Robust and reliable results will be achieved by training a large sample of participants on PL tasks and assess the outcomes via a common set of measures. The investigators will also collect a broad assessment of individual differences, which will provide a unique dataset that can resolve controversies in the literature and lead to new understandings. The proposed analytical approach tests several key hypotheses in the field, explores the extent to which different training approaches lead to systematically different profiles of learning, and examines how these can differ based upon the individuals being trained.
The present study investigates the mechanisms of Perceptual Learning (PL), with a focus on training task characteristics that induce generalizable enhancements in visual performance (i.e., that produce benefits on tasks beyond just the trained task, as this is critical for training to have translational value). To achieve this, the investigators target PL of spatial vision in human subjects, which is the most common target of PL in basic science research.
The investigators run a large number of participants across 12 separate conditions thought to mediate effects of PL (e.g., training with flanking stimuli, use of noise, manipulating difficulty during training, multisensory facilitation with sound, training with a diversity of stimuli, and cueing attention during training) using common outcome measures, and analyze both the effect of training condition and individual differences that impact learning. A novel crossover design is used to train participants in the younger cohort sequentially on two tasks and examine learning and generalization to determine which methods involve redundant or independent processes. It is noted that the first phase of training is the primary clinical trial and that the crossover is to address a mechanistic question regarding interactions of different training types. It is hypothesized that training with mostly difficult, precise stimuli will give rise to less generalization than training with easy, imprecise stimuli after sequential double training.
The investigators also specifically examine biological variables, such as sex and age, in addition to personality traits, sleep habits, motivation, and individual differences in baseline performance to gain a more complete understanding of how these factors may moderate outcomes of PL (including generalization to more real-world contexts, such as reading). It is hypothesized that a number of individual differences, both cognitive and personality based, will predict PL outcomes.
Participants in the younger cohort will be randomized to 1 of 12 arms, with each arm consisting of two conditions (of twelve possible conditions) that participants undergo sequentially. Participants in the older adult cohort will be randomized to 1 of 5 arms, with each arm consisting of a single condition.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 1140
- between18 and 30 years of age (younger cohort)
- between 60 and 85 years of age (older cohort)
- Corrected vision of 20/40 or better (as assessed with an eye chart)
- No reported incidence of retinal pathology or neurological disease
- Corrected vision of 20/40 or worse
- Evidence of retinal pathology or retinal disease
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) C2 - Long Training (LT) Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF) Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C3 - Short Staircases (SS) C3 - Short Staircases (SS) Participants will complete SS training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SS, SPL, or NCC. C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) C3 - Short Staircases (SS) Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C2 - Long Training (LT) No Contact Control Participants will complete LT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either LT, SPL, or NCC. C3 - Short Staircases (SS) C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete SS training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SS, SPL, or NCC. C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) Participants will complete MD training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MD, SPL, or NCC. C3 - Short Staircases (SS) No Contact Control Participants will complete SS training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SS, SPL, or NCC. C5 - Noise Training (NT) C5 - Noise Training (NT) Participants will complete NT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either NT, SPL, or NCC. C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF No Contact Control Participants will complete TWF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete eitherTWF, SPL, or NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) C5 - Noise Training (NT) Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C5 - Noise Training (NT) C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete NT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either NT, SPL, or NCC. C5 - Noise Training (NT) No Contact Control Participants will complete NT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either NT, SPL, or NCC. C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete TWF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete eitherTWF, SPL, or NCC. C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF) Participants will complete TWF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete eitherTWF, SPL, or NCC. C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) No Contact Control Participants will complete SPL training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, or NCC. C2 - Long Training (LT) C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete LT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either LT, SPL, or NCC. C2 - Long Training (LT) C2 - Long Training (LT) Participants will complete LT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either LT, SPL, or NCC. C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete MD training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MD, SPL, or NCC. C8a - Complex Features (CF) C8a - Complex Features (CF) Participants will complete CF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either CF, PT, NCC. C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) Participants will complete ExAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either ExAT, PT, NCC. C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) No Contact Control Participants will complete ExAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either ExAT, PT, NCC. No Contact Control C2 - Long Training (LT) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) No Contact Control Participants will complete MD training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MD, SPL, or NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) No Contact Control Participants will complete SV training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SV, PT, or NCC. C8a - Complex Features (CF) No Contact Control Participants will complete CF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either CF, PT, NCC. C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) No Contact Control Participants will complete MF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MF, PT, NCC. No Contact Control C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) C8a - Complex Features (CF) Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) Participants will complete SV training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SV, PT, or NCC. C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) Participants will complete EnAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either EnAT, PT, NCC. C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) No Contact Control Participants will complete EnAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either EnAT, PT, NCC. C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete MF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MF, PT, NCC. No Contact Control C1 - Standard Perceptual Learning (SPL) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) No Contact Control Participants will complete PT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, or NCC. C9 - Exogenous Attention Training (ExAT) C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete ExAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either ExAT, PT, NCC. C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete SV training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SV, PT, or NCC. C8a - Complex Features (CF) C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete CF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either CF, PT, NCC. No Contact Control C3 - Short Staircases (SS) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C5 - Noise Training (NT) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C8a - Complex Features (CF) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete EnAT training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either EnAT, PT, NCC. C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) Participants will complete MF training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either MF, PT, NCC. No Contact Control C4 - Mixed Difficulty (MD) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C8 - Stimulus Variety (SV) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C6 - Training with Flankers (TWF) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C10 - Endogenous Attention Training (EnAT) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control No Contact Control Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C7 - Parafoveal Training (PT) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC. No Contact Control C11 - Multisensory Facilitation (MF) Participants will complete NCC training during the first phase of training. In the cross-over they will then complete either SPL, LT, SS, MD, NT, TWF, PT, SV, CF, ExAT, EnAT, MF, NCC.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Near Transfer Task Baseline to Post-test 2, an average of 5-8 weeks We will utilize an overarching task structure that allows us to assess learning on trained stimuli and transfer to untrained stimuli; locations, orientations, stimulus timings (e.g., we will assess contrast sensitivity for 6 different orientations). A trial begins with a fixation-point presented for 500ms. A target stimulus then appears for 128ms and then disappears (this timing was chosen to preclude participants making eye-movements to the stimuli). The participant is then required to respond by indicating the orientation of the stimulus (e.g., the major axis of a Gabor stimulus or gap-side of a C stimulus). In contrast tests, a staircase is run on the contrast of the target stimulus. In acuity tests, a staircase is run on the size of the stimulus. In parafoveal tests, stimuli are presented at 5° eccentricity.
Change in Transfer to Reading Baseline to Post-test 2, an average of 5-8 weeks To understand visual performance related to reading, we employ the MNRead task, where participants read short sentences out-loud at various font-sizes. Dependent variables include reading speed, minimal text-size (another measure of acuity), and also critical print-size (text-size at which reading speed slows down).
Change in Transfer to Visual Search Baseline to Post-test 2, an average of 5-8 weeks In a T/L annular visual-search task (1° stimuli, presented at 5° eccentricity at each of 8 evenly spaced locations), on each trial, 7 positions are filled with a distractor (upside-down Ls, half black and half white), while 1 position contains a target (rightside-up T that is either white or black). Stimuli are presented for 256ms and, after a variable SOA, a stimulus-mask (asterixis) appears. Participants report the color of the T. A 3/1 staircase controls the SOA of the mask (shorter SOAs = less time between stimulus and mask = more difficult). This task tests how training impacts processing time (i.e., time necessary to find and identify targets). Also, given that the same locations are used as in the parafoveal training, we can also estimate the extent to which transfer to visual search occurs and, if so, whether it is specific to the trained location.
Change in Transfer to Auditory Attention Baseline to Post-test 2, an average of 5-8 weeks The procedure is based upon a speaker-on-speaker task where participants choose between 36 call signs (a color and number) spoken by a speaker. This task measures auditory thresholds for speech in the presence of other talkers, when all talkers are spatially collocated compared to when they are spatially offset.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (3)
University of California
🇺🇸Riverside, California, United States
Northeastern University
🇺🇸Boston, Massachusetts, United States
University of Wisconsin
🇺🇸Madison, Wisconsin, United States