The cognitive and neural plasticity of perceptual expertise

感知专业知识的认知和神经可塑性

• 批准号: 261830-2009
• 负责人: Tanaka, James(Jim)
• 金额: $ 1.6万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2010-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=426827
• 关键词: cognitive; neural; plasticity; perceptual; expertise

In a blink of an eye, an expert birdwatcher can discriminate a "white crown sparrow" from a "Lincoln sparrow." Likewise, the expert botanist can discern the subtle details between a "Russula" mushroom and a "Latarius" mushroom. What are the factors that contribute to the development of this kind of perceptual expertise? Undoubtedly, experts have more experience to objects in their domain of expertise than novices. However, it is not clear whether it is the amount of experience or the kind of experience that shapes expert performance. In this study, we will train subjects to recognize objects and faces at either a general level or a specific level of categorization. In our experiments, subjects will receive the same amount of training exposure to the object and face stimuli. The prediction is that for objects and faces that are categorized at a more detailed level, subjects will show expert-like perceptual abilities and this skill will transfer to the recognition of new stimuli from related categories. However, for objects that are categorized at a general level, subjects will show very little expert abilities and little or no transfer to new categories. Thus, it is the kind of category experience, not just the amount that determines expertise. This prediction will be tested using electrophysiological methods in which we will measure brain activity at the scalp while subjects are trained to become expert recognizers. We will also monitor eye movements to evaluate changes in perceptual strategies due to the demands of training. The goal of these experiments is to understand the changes that occur in cognitive and neurophysiological processes as one develops from a perceptual novice to a perceptual expert.

眨眼间，专业的观鸟者就可以区分“白冠麻雀”和“林肯麻雀”。 同样，专业的植物学家可以辨别“红菇”蘑菇和“拉塔里乌斯”蘑菇之间的微妙细节。哪些因素有助于这种感知专业知识的发展？ 毫无疑问，专家比新手对自己专业领域的对象有更多的经验。然而，尚不清楚是经验的数量还是经验的种类决定了专家的表现。 在这项研究中，我们将训练受试者在一般水平或特定分类水平上识别物体和面孔。 在我们的实验中，受试者将接受相同数量的物体和面部刺激的训练。预测是，对于更详细分类的物体和面孔，受试者将表现出专家般的感知能力，并且这种技能将转移到对相关类别的新刺激的识别。 然而，对于在一般级别分类的对象，受试者将表现出很少的专业能力，并且很少或根本不会转移到新类别。 因此，决定专业知识的是类别经验的种类，而不仅仅是数量。这一预测将使用电生理学方法进行测试，其中我们将测量头皮的大脑活动，同时受试者接受训练成为专家识别者。 我们还将监测眼球运动，以评估由于训练的需要而导致的感知策略的变化。 这些实验的目的是了解当一个人从感知新手发展为感知专家时，认知和神经生理过程中发生的变化。