The absolute pitch mind continues to reveal itself

Abstract

Absolute pitch has proved useful as an alternative perspective from which to investigate various cognitive faculties. A new functional magnetic resonance imaging study published recently in BMC Neuroscience adds new data to the ongoing debate concerning the neural underpinnings of this unusual ability.

Figure 1

Differences in cortical thickness between musicians with and without absolute pitch in areas of the frontal lobe. Colored regions indicate statistically significant differences in cortical thickness between the 12 strongest and 12 weakest performers on a test of absolute pitch (AP). Adapted from Bermudez et al. [11].

Figure 2

Differences in early and late activity between absolute pitch (AP) and non-AP musicians. AP possessors showed greater activity in the left superior temporal sulcus during the early scanning period (imaging time points (ITPs) at 0 to 3 s post-stimulus) and non-possessors showed greater activity in right parietal areas during both scanning periods (ITPs at 4 to 6 s post-stimulus).