FREQUENCY AND FREQUENCY-RATIO RESOLUTION BY POSSESSORS OF ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE PITCH - EXAMPLES OF CATEGORICAL PERCEPTION

The methodology derived from the trace-context theory of intensity res olution (Durlach and Braida, 1969; Macmillan et al, 1988) was applied to resolution over an octave range along two continua: a sequential-fr equency-ratio continuum for possessors of relative pitch (RP), and a p ure-tone frequency continuum for possessors of absolute pitch (AP). Th e performance of both RP and AP possessors was exceptional in that tot al identification sensitivity along both continua was much greater tha n identification sensitivity along unidimensional psychophysical conti nua characterized by the 7+/-2 rule. In addition, the performance of R P possessors was exceptional in that, on average, total sensitivity fo r identification resolution was greater than sensitivity for resolutio n in discrimination. Finally, identification sensitivity between categ ory prototypes (chromatic semits) along both continua was approximatel y the same as identification sensitivity between phonemic category pro totypes along speech continua, despite the fact that both the discrimi nation ranges and the total number of Categories are much larger for t he two pitch continua.