Tonal cognition in pattern discrimination: Evidence from three populations

The development of tonal pattern discrimination was investigated in 24 coll ege musicians, 24 college nonmusicians, and 38 children in first grade. Com parisons of the two college-age groups on three tests yielded differences i n accuracy and speed that interacted with item type. Comparisons of all thr ee groups on one test demonstrated that college nonmusicians were no more a ccurate, although they responded to some items faster than did the first-gr ade group. These data support the process validity of the approach develope d by Saunders and Holahan (1993) to the study of functional mechanisms of t onal audiation across the developmental span from the majority of children in first grade to college age students with different levels of musical tra ining.