Relations of pitch matching, pitch discrimination, and otoacoustic emission suppression in individuals not formally trained as musicians.
Research has yielded a relationship between pitch matching and pitch discrimination. Good pitch matchers tend to be good pitch discriminators and are often judged to be vocally talented. Otoacoustic emission suppression measures the function of the efferent auditory system which may affect accuracy for pitch matching and pitch discrimination. Formally trained musicians show pitch matching and pitch discrimination superior to those of nonmusicians and have greater efferent otoacoustic emission suppression than nonmusicians. This study investigated the relationship among pitch matching, pitch discrimination, and otoacoustic emission suppression in individuals with no formal musical training and who showed varied pitch matching and pitch discrimination. Analysis suggested a significant relationship between pitch matching and pitch discrimination but not between otoacoustic emission suppression and pitch matching and pitch discrimination. Findings are presented in the context of previous research indicating a significant relationship between otoacoustic emission suppression and musical talent in trained musicians.
Moore
Robert E
RE
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, UCOM 2000, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA. rmoore@usouthal.edu
Estis
Julie M
JM
Zhang
Fawen
F
Watts
Christopher
C
Marble
Elizabeth
E
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude; D004517:Education, Professional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D009790:Occupations; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010897:Pitch Discrimination; D010898:Pitch Perception