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SUMMARY:Learning and brain plasticity for perceptual decisions - Professor
  Zoe Kourtzi\, Chair of Brain Imaging\, School of Psychology\, University 
 of Birmingham
DTSTART:20121109T163000Z
DTEND:20121109T180000Z
UID:TALK38928@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Louise White
DESCRIPTION:Visual recognition and categorization are exquisite perceptual
  skills: whether we are searching for a friend in a busy street or decidin
 g on the attribution of a painting. Learning facilitates these perceptual 
 tasks\, yet we know relatively little about the brain plasticity mechanism
 s involved. I will describe work that combines behavioral measurements\, m
 ultimodal brain imaging and advanced computational analysis to identify an
 d test these mechanisms. We exploit the complementary spatial and temporal
  resolution of simultaneous EEG-fMRI to uncover the spatiotemporal dynamic
 s of cortical networks involved in perceptual and categorical learning. I 
 will suggest that learning acts on distinct recognition processes and shap
 es interactions between brain areas to support perceptual decisions. In pa
 rticular\, our findings reveal that learning changes decision criteria in 
 fronto-parietal circuits\, while selectivity for object features is enhanc
 ed in occipito-temporal circuits. This work suggests that learning optimiz
 es a distributed neural code for perceptual decisions in the human brain.\
 n
LOCATION:Ground Floor Lecture Theatre\, Department of Psychology
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