title: Absolute pitch does not depend on early musical training.
abstract: The etiology and defining characteristics of absolute pitch (AP) have been controversial. To test the importance of musical training in the development of this skill, we developed a new paradigm for identifying AP that is independent of a subject's musical experience. We confirm the efficacy of the paradigm using classically defined AP and non-AP musicians. We then present data from a nonmusician who nevertheless appears to possess AP. We conclude that musical training is not necessary for the development of AP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. david.a.ross@yale.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Ingrid R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*