Time-frequency transformation by arrays of neural oscillators: Implications for musical structure.
Marc J. Velasco, Edward W. Large · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2008
A growing body of evidence is consistent with the possibility of nonlinear oscillation in both the peripheral and central auditory nervous systems. This talk will introduce a model of nonlinear time-frequency transformation via an array of neural oscillators, each tuned to a distinct frequency, organized along a frequency gradient. Transformation of sound stimuli by neural oscillators is characterized. Predictions about general properties of nonlinear time-frequency transformation, such as frequency detuning and higher-order resonance, are derived. The model is consistent with nonlinear resonance approaches to pitch perception. The perception of tonality is predicted as a global pattern of resonance regions at small integer ratio frequency relationships. Neural oscillation provides a substantive potentially universal principle underlying the basic materials of music, namely, pitch and tonality. [Work supported by AFOSR FA9550-07-C0095.]