Ditye, T;
(2014)
Learning-dependent plasticity in the human visual system.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Abstract
The capability to change is an inherent property of the human brain. Plastic processes occur throughout the central nervous system and are a requirement for development, learning, and the formation of memories. The research presented in this thesis examined learning-dependent plasticity in the visual system. Mechanisms of interest included structural and functional brain plasticity, adaptation, and the facilitating functions of sleep in supporting the processing, implementation, and organisation of newly learned information and experiences. Some of the most traditional experimental paradigms such as visual search, sensory adaptation, and texture discrimination were utilised to trigger learning and the accompanying changes in behaviour, neural function, and brain anatomy. Results based on behavioural data and high-resolution brain imaging data showed that training in a variety of visual tasks can result in characteristic short-term adjustments of cortical volume and myelination in task-relevant brain regions which can be correlated with individual improvements in task performance. Our research further demonstrated that sleep is a requirement for the integration of adaptive visual experiences, thereby linking adaptation---a mechanism usually not considered to play a role in mnemonic processes---with learning and memory.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Learning-dependent plasticity in the human visual system |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | plasticity, sleep, perceptual learning, adaptation |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1419268 |
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