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Abstract:
In recent music experiments we have shown that during the
processing of chord-sequences (i.e. a musical context) unexpected
chords elicit early and later ERP effects. The late negativity was
taken to reflect the higher degree of integration needed for the
processing of unexpected chords. The aim of the present experiment
was to investigate the processing of chord-inversions. Chord
inversions have the same chord-function as chords in root position
(i.e. they consist of the same notes), but they differ with respect
of their base-tone. Behavioral studies on chord inversions have
shown that six-four chords are more difficult to discriminate
compared to sixth chords. Sixteen non-musicians were presented with
sequences of five in-key chords. The third chord was either
presented in root position, as sixth-chord or as six-four chord.
During the behavioral variant of the experiment it was found that
the subjects were not able to differentiate between the three chord
conditions. The ERP-version of the experiment (same subjects),
however, showed a clear posteriorly distributed N270 and centrally
distributed N440 difference between chords presented in root
position and chord-inversions. The N270 was similarly large for
both inversions whereas the N440 was the largest for the six-four
inversion. These data suggest that six-four chords are probably
more difficult to integrate as sixth chords and indicate a
surprising sensitivity of non-musicians toward complex/subtle
musical information.
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