Infants' and adults' perception of scale structure

Author(s): Schellenberg, E. G., Kamenetsky, S. B.

Journal/Book: J Exp Psychol Hum Percep Perf. 1999; 25: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, USA. Amer Psychological Assoc. 965-975.

Abstract: Adults and 9-month-old infants were required to detect mistuned tones in multitone sequences. When 7-tone versions of a common nursery tune were generated from the Western major scale (unequal scale steps) or from an alternative scale (equal steps), infants detected the mistuned tones more accurately in the unequal-step context than in the equal-step context (Experiment 1). Infants and adults were subsequently tested with 1 of 3 ascending-descending scales (15 tones): (a) a potentially familiar scale (major) with unequal steps, (b) an unfamiliar scale with unequal steps, and (c) an unfamiliar scale with equal steps. Infants detected mistuned tones only in the scales with unequal steps (Experiment 2). Adults performed better on the familiar (major) unequal-step scale and equally poorly on both unfamiliar scales (Experiments 3 and 4). These findings are indicative of an inherent processing bias favoring unequal-step scales.

Note: Article Trehub SE, Univ Toronto, Dept Psychol, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, CANADA

Keyword(s): NONNATIVE VOWEL CONTRASTS; DEVELOPMENTAL-CHANGES; SPEECH-PERCEPTION; FREQUENCY RATIOS; TONE SEQUENCES; MUSICAL SCALES; EXPERIENCE; INTERVALS; MELODIES; PATTERNS

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