Auditory brain potentials in musicians: Effects of attention, task difficulty, and ear of stimulations

Author(s): Roth, R. M., Velikonja, K.

Journal/Book: Brain Cognition. 1996; 32: 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495. Academic Press Inc Jnl-Comp Subscriptions. 296-299.

Abstract: Previous research has found differences between musicians and nonmusicians on the P300 event-related potential. The possibility that P300 in these groups is differentially affected by task parameters has received little investigation. We evaluated the role of attention, difficulty of discrimination and ear of stimulation on P300 in musicians and nonmusicians as elicited in a pitch discrimination task. No significant effects were found for P300 amplitude or latency. Musicians had significantly shorter reaction times than nonmusicians in the difficult pitch discrimination condition. Results suggest that musicians better ability to make subtle discriminations is not due to faster stimulus evaluation. Rather, musicians may have enhanced certainty evaluation and/or motor processes.

Note: Article Baribeau J, Concordia Univ, Dept Psychol, 7141 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, PQ H4B 1R6, CANADA

Keyword(s): ABSOLUTE PITCH

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