🧠Generalizing Across Tonal Context, Timbre, and Octave in Rapid Absolute Pitch Training (2023)
🧠Study Overview
This study examines how adults can rapidly acquire and generalize absolute pitch (AP) across tonal contexts, timbres, and octaves through short-term training, challenging the belief that AP is limited to early childhood. The authors conducted a 4-week training program with 15 adult non-AP musicians, using a computerized protocol. Key findings include:
- Rapid Learning: Participants achieved 80% accuracy in naming pitches across different octaves and timbres after just 20 hours of training.
- Generalization: AP skills generalized to new tonal contexts and instruments, indicating robust perceptual learning in adults.
- Perceptual Mechanisms: The study highlights enhanced auditory processing in the auditory cortex, linked to improved pitch categorization and memory.
The authors conclude that AP can be rapidly learned and generalized in adults with targeted training, offering new insights into auditory perception and musical education, though individual differences in learning persist.
📄 Citation
Bongiovanni, N.R., Heald, S.L.M., Nusbaum, H.C., & Van Hedger, S.C (2023). Generalizing Across Tonal Context, Timbre, and Octave in Rapid Absolute Pitch Training. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. Available at:
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