Creator

Amber M. Powner

Advisor

Bright, Kathryn E.

Committee Member

Malde, Melissa

Committee Member

Finan, Donald S.

Committee Member

Stoody, Tina M.

Department

Audiology and Speech-Language Sciences

Institution

University of Northern Colorado

Type of Resources

Text

Place of Publication

Greeley (Colo.)

Publisher

University of Northern Colorado

Date Created

5-1-2014

Genre

Thesis

Extent

73 pages

Digital Origin

Born digital

Abstract

A group of classically trained musicians and a group of non-musicians were compared using psychophysical tasks of pitch perception to determine the effect of musical training on the auditory mechanism. Two measurements, frequency difference limens (DLFs) and psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs) were gathered for each subject at four frequencies in each ear separately. Results indicated a significant difference between musicians and non-musicians at three frequencies for DLF measures, and no significant findings regarding PTC measurements. These findings reveal a significant musical training effect on DLF outcomes, while the effect of musical training on PTCs, if any, remains to be determined. Implications of this study support changes in measureable auditory skills resulting from auditory training through music, and suggest that the frequency selectivity at the level of the cochlea is different between musicians and non-musicians. Additional studies are needed to demonstrate auditory differences between musicians and non-musicians using other psychophysical measurements beyond DLFs.

Degree type

AuD

Degree Name

Doctoral

Language

English

Local Identifiers

Powner_unco_0161D_10272

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by author.

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