Higher-level linguistic categories dominate lower-level acoustics in lexical tone processing.
Native tonal-language speakers exhibit reduced sensitivity to lexical tone differences within, compared to across, categories (higher-level linguistic category influence). Yet, sensitivity is enhanced among musically trained, non-tonal-language-speaking individuals (lower-level acoustics processing influence). The current study investigated the relative contribution of higher- and lower-level influences when both are present. Seventeen Mandarin musicians completed music pitch and lexical tone discrimination tasks. Similar to English musicians [Zhao and Kuhl (2015). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 137(3), 1452-1463], Mandarin musicians' overall sensitivity to lexical tone differences was associated with music pitch score, suggesting lower-level contributions. However, the musician's sensitivities to lexical tone pairs along a continuum were similar to Mandarin non-musicians, reflecting dominant higher-level influences.
Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USAzhaotc@uw.edu, pkkuhl@uw.edu.
T Christina
TC
Zhao
Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USAzhaotc@uw.edu, pkkuhl@uw.edu.
Patricia K
PK
Kuhl
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology; D010700:Phonetics; D010897:Pitch Discrimination / Q000502:physiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult