Broad learning transfer in visual hierarchical processing

Abstract

The literature has yielded mixed conclusions as to whether there is hemispheric specialization for the perception of hierarchical stimuli (e.g., Navon-type figures), with some findings indicating enhanced processing of local configurations in the left hemisphere and enhanced global (holistic) processing in the right hemisphere. Here, we tested hierarchical processing of stimuli in the two visual fields (left/right) to probe hemispheric specialization with perceptual learning. Participants (N = 16) were presented with letter-based, congruent and incongruent Navon figures and asked to judge the identity of either the global or local structure. Participants were tested in four conditions consisting of all combinations of the two visual fields and two tasks (global/local), before and after training on one of the four conditions. Results showed no interaction between the two visual fields for the two tasks. More importantly, training improved performance and speed (RT) for all conditions, regardless of the trained task or visual field. The results suggest hierarchical stimuli are processed comparably well by both hemispheres for both tasks and demonstrate extensive learning transfer between trained locations and tasks.