The Neural Basis of Musical Consonance

摘要: Three studies were designed to determine the relation between subcortical neural temporal coding and perception of musical consonance. Consonance describes pleasing resolution stability that occurs when notes with simple frequency ratios are combined. Recent work suggests consonance is likely be driven by ?harmonicity?, i.e. extent which components combined spectrum two or more share a common fundamental therefore resemble single complex tone (McDermott et al, 2010, Curr Biol). The publication in Chapter 3 paper describing method for measuring harmonicity phase locking represented frequency-following response (FFR). FFR scalp-recorded auditory evoked potential, generated named from characteristic peaks waveform periods corresponding frequencies present fine structure envelope stimulus. Chapters 4 5 demonstrate this predicts individual differences young normal-hearing listeners, both without experience. results study also distortion products resulting monaural cochlear interactions enhance may increase perceived pleasantness consonant combinations notes. suggest two-note chords consisting below 2500 Hz part basal region cochlea tuned above range. effects high-frequency masking noise can accounted model saturating inner hair-cell receptor potential. Finally, 6 demonstrates age related decline distinction representation dissonant dyads FFR, concurrent perceptual dyads. Overall thesis provide evidence explained coding, age-related declines underlie