A review of the generalization of auditory learning
The ability to detect and discriminate attributes of sounds improves with practice. Determining how
such auditory learning generalizes to stimuli and tasks that are not encountered during training can
guide the development of training regimens used to improve hearing abilities in particular
populations as well as provide insight into the neural mechanisms mediating auditory performance.
Here we review the newly emerging literature on the generalization of auditory learning, focusing on
behavioural investigations of generalization on basic auditory tasks in human listeners. The review
reveals a variety of generalization patterns across different trained tasks that can not be summarized
with a simple rule, and a diversity of views about the definition, evaluation and interpretation
of generalization.