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Abstract
Performance of a wide range of simple visual tasks improves with practice. Here we
ask whether such learning occurs for the fundamental visual task of luminance contrast
detection. In two experiments we find that contrast sensitivity increases following
extensive practice at detecting briefly presented sinusoidal luminance gratings and
that learning is maintained after six months. Learning is spatial frequency tuned,
specific to retinal location and can be specific to one eye, but is not selective
for orientation. The selectivity of learning implies that it is based on plasticity
in early visual, as opposed to central cognitive, processing mechanisms.