Associations Between Musical Experience and Auditory Discrimination

Authors

  • Cory McKenzie University of Alberta
  • Amberley Ostevik University of Alberta
  • Bill Hodgetts University of Alberta
  • Jacqueline Cummine University of Alberta
  • Daniel Aalto University of Alberta

Abstract

Background: Auditory processing is affected by both musical experience and native language. However, which aspects of auditory perception are influenced by musical experience for which language groups is not known.

Objectives: To identify how musical experience is related to auditory discrimination for English speakers, and to compare these results with previous literature on other languages.

Design: Scores on the Goldsmith Musical Sophistication Index self-report questionnaire were correlated to six aspects of auditory discrimination. Auditory discrimination was measured using three two-choice forced decision tasks for simple pitch discrimination, simple duration discrimination, and complex duration discrimination.

Results: Only pitch discrimination was significantly related to musical experience after correction for multiple correlations.

Conclusions: Improved pitch discrimination has been associated with musical experience in many studies and in many language groups. However, other aspects of auditory perception appear to have a different relationship with musical experience depending on native language.There are many questions remaining, and a direct comparison of different languages for how musical experience affects auditory discrimination is needed.

Author Biographies

Cory McKenzie, University of Alberta

Fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Alberta with a double major in psychology and biological sciences.

Amberley Ostevik, University of Alberta

Audiologist in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

Bill Hodgetts, University of Alberta

Associate professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

Jacqueline Cummine, University of Alberta

Associate professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

Daniel Aalto, University of Alberta

Assistant professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine

Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM)

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Published

2019-10-16

How to Cite

1.
McKenzie C, Ostevik A, Hodgetts B, Cummine J, Aalto D. Associations Between Musical Experience and Auditory Discrimination. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2019 Oct. 16 [cited 2023 Mar. 31];47(3):30-1. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/3342

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 3 (2019)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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