It is controversial whether the adult early visual cortex is sufficiently plastic to cause visual perceptual learning (VPL). The controversy occurs partially because most VPL studies have examined correlations between behavioral and neural activity changes rather than cause-and-effect relationships. Using an online-feedback method that utilizes decoded functional magnetic resonance imaging signals, we induced activity patterns only in early visual cortex corresponding to an orientation without stimulus presentation or subjects’ awareness of what was to be learned. The induced activation caused VPL specific to the orientation. These results suggest that early visual areas are so plastic that mere inductions of activity patterns are sufficient to cause VPL. This technique can induce plasticity in a highly selective manner, potentially leading to powerful training and rehabilitative protocols.
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