Re: the number of fixed categories in absolute pitch

[Andrew Milne <andymilne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

So are we to understand, from "NAP subjects can 'transmit' about 3 bits on a
single frequency dimention, while AP subjects can transmit about 3 bits on
each of two dimensions: Pitch height and Chroma" that the brain is a binary
system?

Andy Milne

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leon van Noorden" <leonvannoorden@CHELLO.BE>
To: <AUDITORY@LISTS.MCGILL.CA>
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: the number of fixed categories in absolute pitch


> The difference between AP and NAP subjects has been explained by the
> assumption that in tasks of absolute pitch identification NAP subjects can
> 'transmit' about 3 bits on a single frequency dimention, while AP subjects
> can transmit about 3 bits on each of two dimensions: Pitch height and
> Chroma. (the magical number of 7 plus or minus 2, times two). There are
> studies that give as result that AP subjects make more octave errors than
> NAP subjects. I would like to scrutinize the experimental setup of the
> experiment where the subjects showed the ability of indicating "C plus ca
10
> cents". It should have been made sure that the subject was not able to use
> relative pitch as a third dimension.
> Leon van Noorden
>
> >
> > The number of "fixed categories" is only large, if you test APers over
> > several octaves. Within an octave the number of categories (in "western"
> > countries) only is 12. And we should not forget that the AP ability only
> > concerns the categories within the octave range. Beyond the octave
range,
> > APers make as many octave confusion errors as non-AP musicians.
> >
> > There are, however, large variations within the group of APers. Some can
> > identify many pitches between two adjacent categories, like C and C#.
They
> > can answer something like "C plus ca 10 Cent" or "C plus ca 30 Cent".
So,
> > some APers actually have well over 100 categories in the octave
> > range. [But
> > this is not what Ward had in mind. He was referring to semitones.]
> >
> > Martin
> >
> > --------------------------------
> > Martin Braun
> > Neuroscience of Music
> > S-671 95 Klässbol
> > Sweden
> > web site: http://w1.570.telia.com/~u57011259/index.htm
> >