Associative Learning in Early Vision

Associative learning in early vision refers to experience-dependent modification of lateral interactions in the visual system. This type of perceptual learning improves the integration of spatial information and is manifested via improved performance on simple visual tasks such as integrating local line elements into contours. Learning is modeled using associative rules, expressed as increased (Hebbian) or decreased (Anti-Hebbian) strength of connections between elementary sensory units (neurons) that are activated in temporal proximity by distributed visual stimuli.