Citation

Novick I, Vaadia E. PLoS One 2011; 6(10): e26020.

Affiliation

The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0026020

PMID

21998746

PMCID

PMC3187836

Abstract

Sensory-motor learning is commonly considered as a mapping process, whereby sensory information is transformed into the motor commands that drive actions. However, this directional mapping, from inputs to outputs, is part of a loop; sensory stimuli cause actions and vice versa. Here, we explore whether actions affect the understanding of the sensory input that they cause. Using a visuo-motor task in humans, we demonstrate two types of learning-related behavioral effects. Stimulus-dependent effects reflect stimulus-response learning, while action-dependent effects reflect a distinct learning component, allowing the brain to predict the forthcoming sensory outcome of actions. Together, the stimulus-dependent and the action-dependent learning components allow the brain to construct a complete internal representation of the sensory-motor loop.

Language: en