David Huron
Hearing Seminar, Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics
Stanford University, August 25, 2005
How are sounds represented in the brain? The extant experimental research has presented a confusing mosaic. In particular, the research shows large individual differences, and suggests that listeners have access to several parallel, concurrent representations. In this presentation, I discuss research on the plasticity of sound localization (Hofman & Van Opstal, 1998; Hofman, et al 2002) and research on both absolute and relative pitch (Miyazaki, 1990, 1993; Simpson & Huron, 1994). I suggest that several patterns in auditory/musical development are consistent with a neural Darwinist theory. This theory (Edelman, 1987, 1993), proposes that group selection occurs when patterns of neural organization compete for cortical real estate. Unsuccessful functions atrophy and their cortical resources are taken over by the more "successful" functions. Repercussions for music perception, cross-cultural listening, and music information retrieval are discussed.