DEVELOPMENTAL INCREASE IN THE DURATION OF MEMORY FOR TONE PITCH

This research examined developmental change in the duration of memory for tone pitch. In Experiment 1, the persistence of memory for pitch w as examined with a 2-tone comparison task in children 6-7 and 10-12 ye ars old and in adults. Because pitch perception differences could cont aminate the measure of memory, the frequency difference between tones was adjusted for each subject until a criterion level of performance w as reached. In a subsequent test phase, the resulting frequency differ ence was maintained but the time between tones was varied. Performance deteriorated across the intertone interval more quickly in younger th an in older subjects. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the developmental difference in pitch memory persistence is unlikely to be based on the development of strategic processing.