Skip to main content

  • HOME
  • CURRENT CONTENT
  • ALL CONTENT
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
    • Journal
    • Editorial
    • Registered Reports
  • INFO FOR
    • Librarians
    • Authors
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Subscriptions and Single Issues
  • MORE
    • Alerts
    • Contact Us

  • Login

  • Advanced search

  • Login
Advanced Search
  • HOME
  • CURRENT CONTENT
  • ALL CONTENT
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
    • Journal
    • Editorial
    • Registered Reports
  • INFO FOR
    • Librarians
    • Authors
    • Reprints and Permissions
    • Subscriptions and Single Issues
  • MORE
    • Alerts
    • Contact Us
Music Perception

New Submission Type

NEW! Registered Reports

Supporting Open Science

The Effects of Absolute Pitch and Tone Language on Pitch Processing and Encoding in Musicians
Stefanie A. Hutka, Claude Alain
Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 32 No. 4, April 2015; (pp. 344-354) DOI: 10.1525/mp.2015.32.4.344
Stefanie A. Hutka
University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • View author's works on this site
Claude Alain
University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • View author's works on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
PreviousNext
Loading

Abstract

Absolute pitch (AP) is the rare ability to identify or produce a specific pitch without a reference pitch, which appears to be more prevalent in tone-language speakers than non-tone-language speakers. Numerous studies support a close relationship between AP, music, and language. Despite this relationship, the extent to which these factors contribute to the processing and encoding of pitch has not yet been investigated. Addressing this research question would provide insights into the relationship between music and language, as well as the mechanisms of AP. To this aim, we recruited AP musicians and non-AP musicians who were either tone-language (Mandarin and Cantonese) or non-tone language speakers. Participants completed a zero- and one-back working memory task using music and non-music (control) stimuli. In general, AP participants had better accuracy and faster reaction times than participants without AP. This effect remained even after controlling for the age at which participants began formal music lessons. We did not observe a performance advantage afforded by speaking a tone language, nor a cumulative advantage afforded by having AP and being a tone-language speaker.

  • absolute pitch
  • tone language
  • musicians
  • pitch processing
  • memory encoding
  • Received October 4, 2012.
  • Accepted May 14, 2014.
  • © 2015 by The Regents of the University of California

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Log in through your institution

You may be able to gain access using your login credentials for your institution. Contact your library if you do not have a username and password.

Purchase access

PreviousNext
Back to top

Vol. 32 No. 4, April 2015

Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal: 32 (4)
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Cover (PDF)
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
eTOC Alert

RSSRSS Icon

Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Music Perception.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
The Effects of Absolute Pitch and Tone Language on Pitch Processing and Encoding in Musicians
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Music Perception
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Music Perception web site.
Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Citation Tools
The Effects of Absolute Pitch and Tone Language on Pitch Processing and Encoding in Musicians
Stefanie A. Hutka, Claude Alain
Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 32 No. 4, April 2015; (pp. 344-354) DOI: 10.1525/mp.2015.32.4.344
Stefanie A. Hutka
University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • View author's works on this site
Claude Alain
University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • View author's works on this site

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Request Permissions
Share
The Effects of Absolute Pitch and Tone Language on Pitch Processing and Encoding in Musicians
Stefanie A. Hutka, Claude Alain
Music Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol. 32 No. 4, April 2015; (pp. 344-354) DOI: 10.1525/mp.2015.32.4.344
Stefanie A. Hutka
University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • View author's works on this site
Claude Alain
University of Toronto & Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Search for this author on this site
  • View author's works on this site
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
View Full Page PDF
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Top
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

Cited By...

Similar Articles

FIND US Facebook Account LinkRSS Feeds LinkTwitter Account LinkLinkedin Account LinkYoutube Account LinkEmail Link

Customer Service

  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Contact

UC Press

  • About UC Press

Navigate

  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • Editorial
  • Contact

Content

  • Current Issue
  • All Content

Info For

  • Librarians
  • Authors
  • Subscriptions and Single Issues

Copyright © 2019 by the Regents of the University of California  Privacy   Accessibility