Using a comparative delayed coincidence technique the lifetime of the 6(1)(
+) level in Nd-144 has been measured as tau = 30 +/- 3 gs, leading to a B(E
2; 6(1)(+) --> 4(1)(+)) value of 25 +/- 3 W.u. This value is almost a facto
r of 3 less than that expected for a purely collective three-phonon state,
but is in agreement with particle-core coupling calculations that predict s
ignificant noncollective L = 4 and L = 6 components in the 4(+) and 6(+) yr
ast state wave functions.