Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.
Visual Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2020 Sep;40(5):680-691. doi: 10.1111/opo.12712. Epub 2020 Jul 12.
There is currently great interest in methods that can modulate brain plasticity, both in terms of understanding the basic mechanisms, and in the remedial application to situations of sensory loss. Recent work has focussed on how different manipulations might be combined to produce new settings that reveal synergistic actions. Here we ask whether a prominent example of adult visual plasticity, called perceptual learning, is modified by other environmental factors, such as visual stimulation and physical exercise.
We quantified the magnitude, rate and transfer of perceptual learning using a peripheral Vernier alignment task, in two groups of subjects matched for a range of baseline factors (e.g. age, starting Vernier threshold, baseline fitness). We trained subjects for 5 days on a Vernier alignment task. In one group, we introduced an exercise protocol with congruent visual stimulation. The control group received the same visual stimulation, but did not exercise prior to measurement of Vernier thresholds.
Although the task generated large amounts of learning (~40%) and some transfer to untrained conditions in both groups, there were no specific benefits associated with either the addition of an exercise schedule or congruent visual stimulation.
In adults, short periods of physical exercise and visual stimulation do not enhance perceptual learning.
目前人们对能够调节大脑可塑性的方法非常感兴趣，无论是在理解基本机制方面，还是在针对感觉丧失的补救应用方面。最近的工作集中在研究不同的操作如何结合起来产生新的环境，从而揭示协同作用。在这里，我们想知道一种称为感知学习的成人视觉可塑性的突出范例是否会受到其他环境因素（如视觉刺激和体育锻炼）的影响。
我们使用外周 Vernier 对准任务来量化感知学习的幅度、速度和转移，该任务涉及两组受试者，这些受试者在一系列基线因素（例如年龄、起始 Vernier 阈值、基线适应能力）方面相匹配。我们对受试者进行了为期 5 天的 Vernier 对准任务训练。在一组中，我们引入了一个与视觉刺激一致的锻炼方案。对照组在测量 Vernier 阈值之前接受了相同的视觉刺激，但没有进行锻炼。
尽管该任务在两组中都产生了大量的学习（~40%），并且有些学习可以转移到未训练的条件，但与附加锻炼计划或一致的视觉刺激都没有特定的好处。
在成年人中，短期的体育锻炼和视觉刺激并不能增强感知学习。
