A marker for differentiation of capabilities for processing of musical harmonies as detected by magnetoencephalography in musicians

This investigation was designed to study the characteristics of a marker fo r harmonic processing and to test whether it could be used for differentiat ing harmonic processing capabilities. The first three chords of an ordinary musical cadenca were presented to the left ear to establish a harmonic con text followed by a harmonic or non-harmonic target tone. Cadencas were pres ented rapidly and randomly in different keys to render the task difficult. Results showed a specific P3m (magnetic P300) effect to the non-harmonic ta rgets which was only visible in subjects with low target recognition errors . Low resolution electro-magnetic tomography current density maps showed P3 m sources in the right temporoparietal, left temporoparietal and frontocent ral brain areas with right temporoparietal sources being strongest and most reliable. The results offer new possibilities to selectively study harmoni c variables in music processing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.