We hope this work inspires new questions about this multifaceted phenomenon, which has received relatively little attention in the long-term memory field before.

Regarding long-term consequences, we predict a strong encoding of episodic and semantic information, supported by the integration of prediction errors and the semanticization of the input, but a weaker encoding of perceptual details.

We propose that the ambiguous stimulus initially induces prediction errors (PEs) across the hierarchy. Once disambiguation occurs, these PEs can be rapidly resolved and integrated, accompanied by a decrease in representational dimensionality as the disambiguated image is linked to existing schemas.

In this opinion paper, we explore the mnemonic consequences of sudden perceptual learning, i.e. the representational features characterising the abrupt disambiguation of an ambiguous stimulus (e.g., a Mooney image).

We will explore sudden learning in humans and artificial agents to uncover why these moments feel so sudden, which information we actually learn, and the role of prediction errors!

This is work together with @jvoeller.bsky.social, @vincentcheung.bsky.social, @numole.bsky.social, Konstantin Weise, Markus Kiefer and @gesahartwigsen.bsky.social at @unileipzig.bsky.social and @copla.bsky.social @mpicbs.bsky.social.