pitch perception :: essays research papers

pageReferencesBaharloo, S., Johnston, P. A., Service, S. K., Gitshcier, J., Freimer, N. B. (1998). Absolute pitch An approach for identification of genetic and nongenetic components. American Journal of Human Genetics, 62, 224-231. Retrieved 11/16/2004.Deutsch, D. (1985). Dichotic listening to melodic patterns and its relationship to hemispheric specialization of function. medical specialty Perception, 3, (2), 127-154. Gregersen, P.K. (1998). Instant recognition The gentics of pitch perception. American Journal of Human Genetics, 62, 221-223. Retrieved 11/16/2004.Heaton, P., Hermelin, B., Pring, L. (1998). Autism and pitch processing a precursor for savant musical ability? medicament Perception, 15, (3), 291-305.Lenhoff, H., M., Perales, O., Hickok, G. (2001). Absolute pitch in Williams syndrome. Music perception, 18, (4), 491-503.Levitin, D., J., Bellugi, U. (1998). Musical abilities in individuals with Williams Syndrome, Music Perception, 15, (4), 357-389.Pechstedt, P., H., Kers hner, J., Kinsbourne, M. (1989). Musical Training improves processing of tonality in the left hemisphere. Music Perception, 6, (3), 275-298.Simpson, J., Huron, D. (1994). Absolute pitch as a learned phenomenon Evidence consistent with the Hick-Hyman law. Music Perception, 12, (2), 267-270.Sloboda, J. A. (1985). An exceptional music memory. Music Perception, 3, (2), 155-170.Nature or Nurture The origins of pitch PerceptionFor most of us, quick and accurate perception of the visual world is necessary for getting around in life we take for granted our instant recognition of color, shape, distance, and the physical relationships between objects. Many aspects of the auditory world are to a fault apprehended in an effortless manner a nighttime whistle is easily identified as a distant train, without any deliberation. However, identifying the pitch of an stray whistle is beyond the abilities of most people. This is also the case for most musicians, despite the fact that they spend every day working in the context of a standardized system of pitch relationships. Those rare individuals who can instantly recognize the pitch of a random easy tone or passing railway car horn, without the use of a reference pitch, possess a cognitive ability that is termed "absolute pitch."The range of useful musical pitches is 20-5,000 Hz, which is, roughly the range of a piano keyboardPitch is a one-dimensional attribute defined by the number of vibrations, per second, emanating from a sound source, such as a plucked stringThe skirting(prenominal) auditory organs are designed specifically for frequency analysis. The cochlear basilar membrane vibrates, at each point along its length, with an optimal evocative frequency. The fact that all humans are quick to appreciate the differences in timbre between instruments illustrates the extreme sensitivity of this organ to complex frequency spectra.