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The Neuronal Base of Perceptual Learning and Skill Acquisition

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International Handbook of Research in Professional and Practice-based Learning

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

Abstract

Procedural and perceptual learning are important processes involved in skill acquisition and the formation of expertise. This chapter provides an overview of recent research on the neuroscientific investigation of these different learning forms underlying the acquisition of skills. We focus on low-level processes in perception and motor control and how these low-level processes are improved by learning. Other forms of neural plasticity like adaptation, habituation, sensitization, conditioning and extinction are differentiated from procedural and perceptual learning. A brief introduction to the neuroanatomical basis of visual function is given. We next review the research on the cognitive neuroscience of these forms of learning with a focus on studies that use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Recent results on dopaminergic and cholinergic processes underlying learning are discussed in the context of a top-down attention-gated model of perceptual learning. Finally an overview is given of research on skill acquisition and the implications of this research on the design of learning environments.

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Suggested Readings

  • Fahle, M., & Poggio, T. (Eds.). (2002). Perceptual learning (p. 2002). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

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  • Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., Fitzpatrick, D., Hall, W. A., & Lamantia, A. S. (2008). Neuroscience (4th ed.). New York: Sinauer Press.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Sebastian M. Frank (Dartmouth College) for his critical and helpful comments. The author also acknowledges funding support from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF, Project “Brain Plasticity and Perceptual Learning”) and the German Research Council (DFG, FOR 1075, Project GR988/22-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Mark W. Greenlee

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  1. Mark W. Greenlee
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education and Professional Studies, Adult and Vocational Education, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Stephen Billett

  2. Institute of Educational Science, University of Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany

    Christian Harteis

  3. Institute of Educational Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Hans Gruber

Glossary

11C-raclopride positron emission tomography 

A brain imaging technique involving the radioactive isotope 11C combined with raclopride to label dopaminergic brain regions.

Anterior cingulum 

Cortical area in medial prefrontal cortex thought to process various aspects of attention and executive control.

Caudate nucleus 

A component of the subcortical basal ganglia involved in motor control, learning, memory and other forms of cognition.

Cholinesterase inhibitor 

Or acetylcholinesterase inhibitor is a chemical substance that inhibits acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine thereby increasing cholinergic transmission.

Extrastriate visual cortex 

Secondary visual cortex beyond the striate (stripped) cortex representing area 17 (containing primary visual cortex).

fMRI 

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive, in-vivo brain imaging technique.

Fusiform gyrus 

Part of the ventral visual cortex involved in object and face recognition.

LGN 

Lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus involved in visual processing with magno-, parvo- and koniocellular layers.

Laminae I–VI 

Six layers of the neocortex, where lamina I borders the pia mater and lamina VI the white matter.

Mid-cingulate/paracingulate cortex 

Parts of the cingular cortex in the medial neocortex.

Nucleus accumbens 

A dopaminergic structure in the midbrain thought to be involved in reward processing.

Nucleus basalis 

Nucleus basalis of Meynert: a group of neurons in the substantia innominate in the basal forebrain involved in cholinergic innervation of the cortex.

Occipito-temporal cortex 

Part of the ventral visual pathway at the junction between the occipital and temporal lobes.

OC 

Optic chiasma, a location in the brain where the optic nerves partially bifurcate.

Physostigmin 

A cholinesterase inhibitor that acts by interfering with the metabolism of acetylcholine.

REM 

Rapid-eye-movement sleep, a form of paradoxical sleep in which the person executes rapid eye movements during dream-like states.

RSVP 

Rapid serial presentation task, a visual task involving the presentation of a rapid sequence of images containing two or more targets that require a motor response from the participant.

SN 

Substantia nigra, a brain structure in the midbrain involved in motor control and reward processing.

SWS 

Slow-wave sleep, stage 3 to 4 of (deep) sleep that is associated of low frequency EEG delta waves.

VBM 

Voxel-based morphometry, a data analysis technique that determines statistical differences in grey and white matter voxel intensities. Used to measure cortical grey and white matter thickness.

Ventral striatum 

Part of the basal ganglia involving the nucleus accumbens, the olfactory tubercle, as well as the caudate nucleus and putamen.

VTA 

Ventral tegmentum area, a dopaminergic structure in the midbrain involved in dopaminergic innervation and control of attention.

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Greenlee, M.W. (2014). The Neuronal Base of Perceptual Learning and Skill Acquisition. In: Billett, S., Harteis, C., Gruber, H. (eds) International Handbook of Research in Professional and Practice-based Learning. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8902-8_12

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