Abstract
Human perceptual learning depends on multiple cognitive systems related to dissociable brain structures. These systems interact not only in cooperative but sometimes competitive ways in optimizing performance. Previous studies showed that manipulations reducing the engagement of frontal lobe-mediated explicit, attentional processes could lead to improved performance in visual statistical learning. Here I present three studies in which we investigated the competitive relationship between statistical learning and frontal lobe-mediated executive functions. The first and second studies focus on functional brain connectivity during visual statistical learning measured by high-density EEG and fMRI. The results showed that weaker long-range connectivity from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) resulted in better visual statistical learning. The third study showed that inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex enhanced visual statistical learning and predictive processing. Our result sheds light not only on the competitive nature of brain systems in cognitive processes but also could have important implications for developing new methods to boost learning and memory.