Nature Communications (Aug 2019)

Ventral midbrain stimulation induces perceptual learning and cortical plasticity in primates

  • John T. Arsenault,
  • Wim Vanduffel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11527-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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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).