Perceptual learning of dot pattern

Dot pattern is a type of pattern defined by specific spatial relationship among some dots. As a compensation for concrete and meaningful visual stimuli, meaningless dot pattern can be used as stimuli in learning tasks. We performed an experiment for exploring the perceptual learning process of dot pattern against random-dot background. Participants were required to learn two types of dot patterns (9-dot and 11-dot). They were assigned to two groups: participants in Group 1 learned 9-dot pattern first and 11-dot pattern later, while those in Group 2 learned 11-dot pattern first and 9-dot pattern later. The results showed that participants could acquire the spatial relationship of dot pattern through perceptual learning in relatively short learning time. In comparison with 9-dot pattern, learning time of 11-dot pattern was slightly longer and its accuracy rate lower, but there was significant positive transfer effect from 11-dot pattern learning to 9-dot learning.