Subject: Re: harmonic vs. inharmonic sounds (one last time) From: Martin Braun <nombraun@xxxxxxxx> Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:28:56 +0100 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>Dear Al and List, physiological models of pitch extraction have been discussed at length on this list and are easily to be found on the internet. Perhaps some more general observations can be of use in the present discussion. Lizards, and many other animals, have taught us that frequency filtering in the inner ear can be achieved by tuned resonators (hair cells). We have detailed and explicit data showing that also neurons can function as tuned resonators. They are able to respond most strongly to one of many frequencies that occur simultaneously in a large network of neural fibers. The anatomy of the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus in mammals is specifically adapted to a technique of pitch extraction that is very similar to man-made electronic pitch extraction based on summation techniques. Neither man-made electronic devices nor brains of animals need harmonic grids to extract the pitch from a vowel. It is not really surprising that such things have never been found in a brain. Martin --------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Braun Neuroscience of Music S-671 95 Klässbol Sweden web site: http://w1.570.telia.com/~u57011259/index.htm