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Vocal Timbre Influences Memory for Melodies

Several studies have demonstrated that melody recognition is reduced when the timbre (instrument) changes between exposure and test, but no study has evaluated the possibility that different timbres have differential effects on melody recognition. The current study evaluated adults’ recognition and liking of unfamiliar Irish melodies presented in four timbres: two familiar (voice, piano) and two less familiar (banjo, marimba). After exposure to a set of melodies, participants judged whether each melody from a larger set (original and novel) was old or new. Melodies presented vocally were remembered significantly better than those presented instrumentally even though they were liked less. The findings confirm that surface features of music and abstract, relational features are processed jointly as well as separately.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OTU.1807/31626
Date04 January 2012
CreatorsWeiss, Michael William
ContributorsTrehub, Sandra E., Schellenberg, E. Glenn
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Languageen_ca
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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