Cognitive Meanings of Musical Elements as Disclosed by Event-Related Potential (ERP) and Verbal Experiments

摘要: The study included six experiments on responses to harmonic and melodic intervals, using two complementary methods: event-related potentials (ERP) verbal responses. Three were performed with each method, the same musical material: (1) isolated intervals (m 2nd, m 3rd, p 5th); (2) nine pairs of comprising combinations three (prime, ascending M 6th); (3) 27 intervals: from Experiment 1, 2. All subjects in ERP knowledgeable music, whereas experiments, varied their cultural background (Western or Arab), age, knowledge. results showed specific even without context, indicating that may be viewed as meaningful words, when presented isolation. Furthermore, comparisons within between confirmed earlier assumptions contribution elements tension excitement, opposed relaxation, underscored importance cognitive principles such "inverted U function," contrast, levels consciousness, hierarchy.