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Effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax in Western music.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Loui, P; Grent-'t-Jong, T; Torpey, D; Woldorff, M
Published in: Brain Res Cogn Brain Res
December 2005

The effects of selective attention on the neural response to the violation of musical syntax were investigated in the present study. Musical chord progressions were played to nonmusicians while Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The five-chord progressions included 61% harmonically expected cadences (I-I(6)-IV-V-I), 26% harmonically unexpected cadences (I-I(6)-IV-V-N(6)), and 13% with one of the five chords having an intensity fadeout across its duration. During the attended condition, subjects responded by pressing a button upon detecting a fadeout in volume; during the unattended condition, subjects were given reading comprehension materials and instructed to ignore all auditory stimuli. In response to the harmonic deviant, an Early Anterior Negativity (EAN) was observed at 150-300 ms in both attention conditions, but it was much larger in amplitude in the attended condition. A second scalp-negative deflection was also identified at 380-600 ms following the harmonic deviants; this Late Negativity onset earlier during the attended condition. These results suggest strong effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Brain Res Cogn Brain Res

DOI

ISSN

0926-6410

Publication Date

December 2005

Volume

25

Issue

3

Start / End Page

678 / 687

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Perception
  • Music
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Loudness Perception
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Eye Movements
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Electroencephalography
 

Citation

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MLA
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Loui, P., Grent-’t-Jong, T., Torpey, D., & Woldorff, M. (2005). Effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax in Western music. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res, 25(3), 678–687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.08.019
Loui, Psyche, Tineke Grent-’t-Jong, Dana Torpey, and Marty Woldorff. “Effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax in Western music.Brain Res Cogn Brain Res 25, no. 3 (December 2005): 678–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.08.019.
Loui P, Grent-’t-Jong T, Torpey D, Woldorff M. Effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax in Western music. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005 Dec;25(3):678–87.
Loui, Psyche, et al. “Effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax in Western music.Brain Res Cogn Brain Res, vol. 25, no. 3, Dec. 2005, pp. 678–87. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.08.019.
Loui P, Grent-’t-Jong T, Torpey D, Woldorff M. Effects of attention on the neural processing of harmonic syntax in Western music. Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005 Dec;25(3):678–687.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain Res Cogn Brain Res

DOI

ISSN

0926-6410

Publication Date

December 2005

Volume

25

Issue

3

Start / End Page

678 / 687

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Perception
  • Music
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Loudness Perception
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Eye Movements
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Electroencephalography