How do high-level cognitive processes such as decision making affect perceptual performance?

In the study of perceptual learning, it was traditionally assumed that improvements in performance were primarily driven by changes in high-level cognitive processes, such as decision making.1

While modern research has demonstrated that perceptual systems are highly mutable—meaning that low-level sensory processing areas can be reshaped by experience—the potential involvement of high-level cognitive processes has not been ruled out. Current computational models of perceptual learning often explore how these systems interact. For instance, the "reweighting" model suggests that learning involves adjusting the strength of connections between early sensory representations and mid- or high-level brain areas. Other models propose that perceptual learning may involve top-down connections, where high-level brain areas influence and modify processing in early-stage sensory areas.1

Ultimately, while the focus of research has shifted toward understanding how low-level neural mechanisms are tuned through practice, the interplay between sensory input and higher-order cognitive functions remains a significant area of investigation in understanding how we improve our ability to respond to stimuli.1