title: A biological rationale for musical consonance.
abstract: The basis of musical consonance has been debated for centuries without resolution. Three interpretations have been considered: (i) that consonance derives from the mathematical simplicity of small integer ratios; (ii) that consonance derives from the physical absence of interference between harmonic spectra; and (iii) that consonance derives from the advantages of recognizing biological vocalization and human vocalization in particular. Whereas the mathematical and physical explanations are at odds with the evidence that has now accumulated, biology provides a plausible explanation for this central issue in music and audition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; purves@neuro.duke.edu dan.bowling@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bowling
authors.affiliation: Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 purves@neuro.duke.edu dan.bowling@univie.ac.at.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Purves
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000162:Acoustics; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009146:Music; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D063346:Singing / Q000502:physiology*; D013016:Sound
keywords: audition; biology; consonance; music; vocalization