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Musical interval perception with pulsatile electrical stimulation of profoundly deaf ears Pijl, Sipke
Abstract
This research examines, in a musical context, the measurement of pitches heard by Nucleus cochlear implant recipients upon systematic variation of electrical pulse rates, delivered to single intracochlear electrodes at a comfortable listening level. Stimuli were configured by a computer in tandem with the Boys Town National Institute Interface for psychophysical research with the Nucleus cochlear implant. Seventeen subjects participated in a 30- item tune recognition test (Experiment I). Many subjects identified a substantial number of items. Three subjects underwent a more detailed investigation to determine whether pitches resulting from pulse rate variation were sufficiently salient for musical interval perception. The results of a closed—set melody recognition test (Experiment II) suggested that recognition was possible on the basis of melody, i.e., even in the complete absence of rhythmical information, and that recognition was possible over a range of pulse rates. However, these results did not determine whether performance was based on ordinal properties of the pitches, or whether successive pitches defined identifiable musical intervals. Intonation quality judgements (Experiment III) of intervals ranging in size from a minor 3rd to a 5th provided evidence that the frequency ratios which characterize acoustical musical intervals also apply to electrical pulse rate pitch. Further evidence of musical ratio recognition was obtained using the method of adjustment (Experiments IV and V). At least 2 out of 3 subjects were able, by means of the adjustment of a variable pulse rate, to reconstruct selected musical intervals abstracted from melodies well—known to the subjects. Two subjects, furthermore, were able to transpose these melodic patterns to higher and lower pulse rates, in a manner similar to that demonstrated by normal—hearing subjects when listening to musical intervals. These results suggest that temporally mediated pitches are capable of conveying ratio pitch information, in the sense that equal ratios of pulse rates appear to produce equal musical pitch intervals. These findings lend support to temporal theories of musical pitch and interval perception.
Item Metadata
Title |
Musical interval perception with pulsatile electrical stimulation of profoundly deaf ears
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1994
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Description |
This research examines, in a musical context, the
measurement of pitches heard by Nucleus cochlear implant
recipients upon systematic variation of electrical pulse
rates, delivered to single intracochlear electrodes at a
comfortable listening level. Stimuli were configured by a
computer in tandem with the Boys Town National Institute
Interface for psychophysical research with the Nucleus
cochlear implant. Seventeen subjects participated in a 30-
item tune recognition test (Experiment I). Many subjects
identified a substantial number of items.
Three subjects underwent a more detailed investigation to
determine whether pitches resulting from pulse rate variation
were sufficiently salient for musical interval perception.
The results of a closed—set melody recognition test
(Experiment II) suggested that recognition was possible on the
basis of melody, i.e., even in the complete absence of
rhythmical information, and that recognition was possible over
a range of pulse rates. However, these results did not
determine whether performance was based on ordinal properties
of the pitches, or whether successive pitches defined
identifiable musical intervals.
Intonation quality judgements (Experiment III) of
intervals ranging in size from a minor 3rd to a 5th provided
evidence that the frequency ratios which characterize
acoustical musical intervals also apply to electrical pulse
rate pitch. Further evidence of musical ratio recognition was
obtained using the method of adjustment (Experiments IV and
V). At least 2 out of 3 subjects were able, by means of the
adjustment of a variable pulse rate, to reconstruct selected
musical intervals abstracted from melodies well—known to the
subjects. Two subjects, furthermore, were able to transpose
these melodic patterns to higher and lower pulse rates, in a
manner similar to that demonstrated by normal—hearing subjects
when listening to musical intervals.
These results suggest that temporally mediated pitches
are capable of conveying ratio pitch information, in the sense
that equal ratios of pulse rates appear to produce equal
musical pitch intervals. These findings lend support to
temporal theories of musical pitch and interval perception.
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Extent |
2461902 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-04-10
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0099227
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1994-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.