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Pitch perfect: Brain differences behind a rare musical ability

Absolute pitch may be more strongly under genetic control than previously thought

Date:
February 11, 2019
Source:
Society for Neuroscience
Summary:
New research reports features of the brain in musicians with absolute, or perfect, pitch (AP) that likely enable individuals with this rare ability -- shared by Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven -- to precisely identify musical notes.
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New research published in JNeurosci reports features of the brain in musicians with absolute, or perfect, pitch (AP) that likely enable individuals with this rare ability -- shared by Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven -- to precisely identify musical notes.

Keith Schneider and colleagues compared auditory cortex structure and activity of three groups of 20 participants, including AP musicians, non-AP musicians of similar musical expertise, and a control group of individuals with minimal musical training. The AP musicians had a significantly larger auditory cortex capable of representing distinct tones without a reference note.

AP is rare, even among expert musicians, and the relative contribution of genetics and experience to this ability is debated. These findings suggest AP may be more strongly under genetic control than previously thought, given that nearly one quarter of the AP musicians did not begin musical training until adolescence.


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Materials provided by Society for Neuroscience. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Larissa McKetton, Kevin DeSimone and Keith A. Schneider. Larger auditory cortical area and broader frequency tuning underlie absolute pitch. Journal of Neuroscience, Feb. 11, 2019; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1532-18.2019

Cite This Page:

Society for Neuroscience. "Pitch perfect: Brain differences behind a rare musical ability." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 February 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190211131500.htm>.
Society for Neuroscience. (2019, February 11). Pitch perfect: Brain differences behind a rare musical ability. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190211131500.htm
Society for Neuroscience. "Pitch perfect: Brain differences behind a rare musical ability." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190211131500.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

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