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Systematic Psychophysical Investigation of Visual Learning

Award Number: R01EY019466
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2009
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2029

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Systematic Psychophysical Investigation of Visual Learning - Summary The long-term goal of the proposed project is to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of visual perceptual learning (VPL) for artificial and natural stimuli, which will be instrumental in developing rehabilitation programs aimed at enhancing damaged or deteriorating vision. The specificity of VPL to the feature and location of the trained visual stimulus is a fundamental characteristic of VPL. To investigate the specificity, one effective way is to use an artificial stimulus such as a Gabor patch as the trained stimulus, as it has been widely used to investigate basic visual processing. Simultaneously, to create an impactful rehabilitation program, the resulting improvements must be generalized to untrained features and locations in visual stimuli encountered in everyday life, including natural scenes (NS). However, it remains uncertain whether the same mechanisms underlie the generalization and specificity in VPL for artificial and NS stimuli. In Specific Aim (SA) 1, we aim to examine basic mechanism of the specificity using a Gabor patch. According to a prevailing theory, early visual processing (e.g., 0 to 150ms after the stimulus onset) primarily involves input-level feedforward signals. In contrast, late processing (e.g.,150-300ms after the stimulus onset) involves recurrent processing. To better understand the mechanism of the specificity of VPL it is crucial to clarify whether early or late processing is involved. Additionally, it remains unclear whether the specificity of VPL involves excitation on the trained feature and location or inhibition on untrained features and locations. Therefore, we will test Hypothesis 1 (H1): Late processing (H1- a) or early processing (H1-b) plays a role in the specificity of VPL, and H2: Excitatory signals (H2-a) or inhibitory signals (H2-b) are involved in inducing the specificity of VPL. We will employ two methods. The backward masking (BM) is used to disrupts and reveal roles of late processing. In preliminary results, BM applied to the trained orientation eliminated the orientation specificity in VPL, supporting H1-a. A Rhythmic Synchronization Orientation Decoding Change (RSDC) method is a novel method that examines at which band(s) of rhythmic synchronization from EEG the decoding performances of trained and untrained features and locations change after VPL training. Preliminary results suggest that trained orientation signals are enhanced at both trained and untrained locations during early processing, while those at untrained locations are inhibited during late processing, leading to the location specificity. In SA2, we will examine the specificity and generalizability of VPL for NS. Our first step is to test H3: VPL for the dominant orientation in NS is specific (H3-a) or generalized (H3- b) to other orientations. Preliminary results support H3-b. If true, we will further investigate the aspects in NS that induce the generalization of VPL. Preliminary result suggests that higher-order statistics, involving correlations between different orientation and spatial frequency channels derived from NS, play a role in the generalization of VPL for NS. We further aim to test H1 and H2 for NS images, using both the BM and RSDC methods.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $398,750 )
2025	2025	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	17	1/22/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$398,750
2025	2023	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	16	1/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $398,750

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$24,260 )
2024	2020	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	13	10/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$24,260
														Subtotal = -$24,260

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $398,750 )
2023	2023	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	16	9/11/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$398,750
														Subtotal = $398,750

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $386,788 )
2022	2022	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	002	15	8/29/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$386,788
2022	2021	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	14	3/11/2022	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$230,327
2022	2020	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	13	3/11/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$230,327
														Subtotal = $386,788

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $397,708 )
2021	2021	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	14	9/21/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,708
2021	2020	BROWN UNIVERSITY	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	13	9/15/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $397,708

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $396,813 )
2020	2020	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	002	13	7/23/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$396,813
2020	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	11	11/18/2019	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,335
2020	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	10	11/18/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$40,335
														Subtotal = $396,813

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $397,219 )
2019	2019	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	004	12	8/1/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,219
2019	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	10	2/7/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$88,488
2019	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	003	11	4/23/2019	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$163
2019	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	11	2/7/2019	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$88,488
2019	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	002	10	4/23/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$163
														Subtotal = $397,219

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $803,858 )
2018	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	002	11	9/19/2018	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$397,608
2018	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	10	5/3/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$406,250
2018	2018	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	10	9/14/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $803,858

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $406,250 )
2017	2017	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	9	4/11/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$365,625
2017	2017	BROWN UNIVERSITY IN PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS	1 PROSPECT ST	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	9	8/18/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,625
														Subtotal = $406,250

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $406,250 )
2016	2016	BROWN UNIVERSITY	POST OFFICE BOX 1929	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	8	4/5/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$406,250
														Subtotal = $406,250

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $406,250 )
2015	2015	BROWN UNIVERSITY	POST OFFICE BOX 1929	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	7	3/18/2015	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$406,250
2015	2013	BROWN UNIVERSITY	POST OFFICE BOX 1929	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	000	6	3/13/2015	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $406,250

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $406,248 )
2013	2013	BROWN UNIVERSITY	POST OFFICE BOX 1929	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	003	6	9/20/2013	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$406,250
2013	2012	BROWN UNIVERSITY	POST OFFICE BOX 1929	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	002	5	9/17/2013	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2013	2012	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	25 BUICK ST	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	000	4	2/5/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$300,001
2013	2012	BROWN UNIVERSITY	POST OFFICE BOX 1929	PROVIDENCE	RI	02912	PROVIDENCE	USA	Vision Research	001	5	2/7/2013	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$299,999
														Subtotal = $406,248

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $347,490 )
2012	2012	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	25 BUICK ST	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	000	4	3/28/2012	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$347,490
														Subtotal = $347,490

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $347,490 )
2011	2011	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	25 BUICK ST	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	000	3	3/30/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$325,772
2011	2011	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	25 BUICK ST	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	001	3	6/28/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$21,718
														Subtotal = $347,490

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $361,969 )
2010	2010	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	25 BUICK ST	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	000	2	4/6/2010	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$361,969
														Subtotal = $361,969

Issue Date FY: 2009 ( Subtotal = $365,625 )
2009	2009	BOSTON UNIVERSITY	25 BUICK ST	BOSTON	MA	02215	SUFFOLK	USA	Vision Research	000	1	3/17/2009	NEW	$365,625
														Subtotal = $365,625

Grand Total All Awards = $6,203,198

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Systematic Psychophysical Investigation of Visual Learning

Award Number: R01EY019466

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2009

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2029

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