Learning to optimize perceptual decisions through suppressive interactions in the human brain.

ABSTRACT: Translating noisy sensory signals to perceptual decisions is critical for successful interactions in complex environments. Learning is known to improve perceptual judgments by filtering external noise and task-irrelevant information. Yet, little is known about the brain mechanisms that mediate learning-dependent suppression. Here, we employ ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA to test whether suppressive processing in decision-related and visual areas facilitates perceptual judgments during training. We demonstrate that parietal GABA relates to suppression of task-irrelevant information, while learning-dependent changes in visual GABA relate to enhanced performance in target detection and feature discrimination tasks. Combining GABA measurements with functional brain co

SUBMITTER: Frangou P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6349878 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature