Nature Communications (Aug 2019)
Ventral midbrain stimulation induces perceptual learning and cortical plasticity in primates
Abstract
Practice can improve the perception of stimuli used to achieve a task (perceptual learning). Here, the authors show in monkeys that perceptual learning can be produced even for irrelevant stimuli if the stimuli are paired with stimulation of a dopaminergic centre, the ventral tegmental area (VTA).