A neurophysiological study into the foundations  of tonal harmony.
Our findings provide magnetoencephalographic evidence that the mismatch-negativity response to two-note chords (dyads) is modulated by a combination of abstract cognitive differences and lower-level differences in the auditory signal. Participants were presented with series of simple-ratio sinusoidal dyads (perfect fourths and perfect fifths) in which the difference between the standard and deviant dyad exhibited an interval change, a shift in pitch space, or both. In addition, the standard-deviant pair of dyads either shared one note or both notes were changed. Only the condition that featured both abstract changes (interval change and pitch-space shift) and two novel notes showed a significantly larger magnetoencephalographic mismatch-negativity response than the other conditions in the right hemisphere. Implications for music and language processing are discussed.
Bergelson
Elika
E
Department of Linguistics, University of Maryland, Maryland, USA. elika.bergelson@gmail.com
Idsardi
William J
WJ
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010507:Periodicity; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013016:Sound; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult