The cognitive and neural plasticity of perceptual expertise

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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.