2017/03/13 by Marilyn G. Boltz
Computer Science · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Music and Audio Processing #Neuroscience and Music Perception #Phonetics and Phonology Research
paper · doi:10.1080/09658211.2017.1298808
openalex publication_date 2017/03/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Two experiments examined the ability to remember the vocal tempo and pitch of different individuals, and the way this information is encoded into the cognitive system. In both studies, participants engaged in an initial familiarisation phase while attending was systematically directed towards different aspects of speakers' voices. Afterwards, they received a tempo or pitch recognition task. Experiment 1 showed that tempo and pitch are both incidentally encoded into memory at levels comparable to intentional learning, and no performance deficit occurs with divided attending. Experiment 2 examined the ability to recognise pitch or tempo when the two dimensions co-varied and found that the presence of one influenced the other: performance was best when both dimensions were positively correlated with one another. As a set, these findings indicate that pitch and tempo are automatically processed in a holistic, integral fashion [Garner, W. R. (1974). The processing of information and structure. Potomac, MD: Erlbaum.] which has a number of cognitive implications.