How does visual perceptual learning interact with plastic changes and excitability in human visual cortex? (A01)

• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: from 2010 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 122679504

We shall investigate whether we can find evidence of crossmodal transfer of perceptual learning, excitability changes and plasticity, from the visual to the somatosensory system and vice versa using (A) visual deprivation combined with somatosensory perceptual learning, (B) tDCS over the visual cortex during tactile learning and vice versa, (C) a tactile and visual orientation discrimination task and (D) visual and haptic categorisation learning in a 3d environment. We shall also investigate whether behavioural stress can induce the same changes in perceptual learning as the oral administration of the stress hormone cortisol (E).

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 874: Integration and Representation of Sensory Processes
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Martin Tegenthoff