high and low, fast and slow (Neil Todd )

Subject: high and low, fast and slow
From:    Neil Todd  <TODD(at)FS4.PSY.MAN.AC.UK>
Date:    Mon, 31 Aug 1998 17:18:26 GMT

Dear List

Biophysical arguments for the origin of high and low pitch

>1.  Physical:  The size of an animal is correlated with the frequencies it
>               produces. (maps physical to physical)

also apply in the rhythm domain.

The squeaky voice pitch of a mouse is associated with a rapid rhythm, the rumble
of the elephant with a slow rhythm. Or to put this in other terms, the distribution
of the modulation power spectrum is also correlated with animal size.

More interestingly though, this also applies to both the perception and production of
rhythm in humans, the bigger you are, slower you are. This is not really surprising for
motor actions, but it is for rhythm perception.  The metrical level at which
you hear the beat in music (the tactus) is determined by your size.

Cheers

Neil

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