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Brain Lateralization of Metrical Accenting in Musicians
Author(s) -
Abecasis Donna,
Brochard Renaud,
Del Río David,
Dufour André,
Ortiz Tomás
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04766.x
Subject(s) - lateralization of brain function , magnetoencephalography , alternation (linguistics) , psychology , perception , right hemisphere , left and right , laterality , audiology , communication , cognitive psychology , electroencephalography , neuroscience , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , structural engineering , engineering
The perception of meter, or the alternation of strong and weak beats, was assessed in musically trained listeners through magnetoencephalography. Metrical accents were examined with no temporal disruption of the serial grouping of tones. Results showed an effect of metrical processing among identical standard tones in the left hemisphere, with larger responses on strong than on weak beats. Moreover, processing of occasional increases in intensity (phenomenal accents) varied as a function of metrical position in the left hemisphere, but not in the right. Our findings support the view of a relatively early, left‐hemispheric effect of metrical processing in musicians.