Current directions in visual perceptual learning

The visual expertise of adult humans is jointly determined by evolution, visual development and visual perceptual learning. Perceptual learning refers to performance improvements in perceptual tasks after practice or training in the task. It occurs in almost all visual tasks, ranging from simple feature detection to complex scene analysis. In this Review, we focus on key behavioural aspects of visual perceptual learning. We begin by describing visual perceptual learning tasks and manipulations that influence the magnitude of learning, and then discuss the specificity of learning. Next, we present theories and computational models of learning and specificity. We then review applications of visual perceptual learning in visual rehabilitation. Finally, we summarize the general principles of visual perceptual learning, discuss the tension between plasticity and stability, and conclude with new research directions. Perceptual learning, or performance improvements after training on perceptual tasks, is a widespread phenomenon in visual perception. In this Review, Lu and Dosher describe findings regarding the specificity and transfer of perceptual learning, mechanisms of learning and key applications in visual rehabilitation.