Abstract:

Perceptual category learning is a process in which human beings classify perceptual stimulations and acquire categories. Feedback is an indispensable part of perceptual category learning. Investigators conducted extensive researches by manipulating different characteristics of the feedback, such as feedback delay (immediate vs. delay), feedback nature (positive vs. negative), feedback type (rich vs. simple), on how feedback affects perceptual category learning, trying to give a reasonable explanation from the physiological or neural perspective. However, there are still many shortcomings on the researches about the influences of feedback on perceptual category. Specifically, few researches focus on the influence in terms of time refinement of the feedback delay, unrelated factors of masking, feedback trial. In addition, there are considerable different opinions on the feedback mechanism. More studies should concern the cognitive feedback mechanism in the future.

Key words: feedback, perceptual category learning, COVIS model, rule-based and information integration structure