Tonal Cognition in Pattern Discrimination: Evidence from Three Populations.

The development of tonal pattern discrimination was investigated in 24 college musicians, 24 college nonmusicians, and 38 children in first grade. Comparisons of the two college-age groups on three tests yielded differences in accuracy and speed that interacted with item type. Comparisons of all three groups on one test demonstrated that college nonmusicians were no more accurate, although they responded to some item types faster than did the first-grade group. These data support the process validity of the approach developed by Saunders and Holahan (1993) to the study of functional mechanisms of tonal audiation across the developmental span from the majority of children in first grade to college-age students with different levels of musical training.